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REMINISCENCES 

OF 

A BOY'S Service 
With The 76th Ohio 

In the Fifteenth Army Corps, 
Under General Sherman, 
During the Civil War, By 
that "Boy" at Three Score. 




CHARLES A. WILLISON 

PRIVATE SOLDIER 



{All rights reserved) 



s«5 



PRESS OF 
E GEORGE SANTA PUBLISHING COMPANY 
MENASHA, WISCONSIN 



/x 



It seems unfortunate that the brave old 76th 
Regiment, embracing in its ranks so many men of 
bright mind and literary qualifications — has not 
developed an historian eloquent to do the subject the 
justice its stirring record invites — as Capt. Kibler 
v^rote the author of this little work when urging that 
these reminiscences be put in permanent form : *'We 
haven't in print a great deal of the history of the 
active part performed by the Regiment in the war, 
and pity it is that it is so." 

To the members of the dear old 76th — the few 
who yet survive — and the memory of the host who 
have passed over the divide, this little work is 
humbly dedicated. The Author. 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE 
CIVIL WAR 



In the olden times, before books were as common 
as now, it was the custom of grandfathers to gather 
their children and children's children about them to 
relate their own personal experiences and adven- 
tures of some eventful period, and thus instil a 
spirit of patriotism and healthy ambition in the 
rising generation. With some such motive I have 
felt like gathering about me the boys and girls of 
the present time to tell them something of a period 
in the history of our own country and times that for 
excitement and adventure and suffering and blood- 
shed has never been surpassed or resulted in greater 
good to humanity. Among you to-day in almost 
every village are a score or more of old men, hardly 
noticed as you pass them by, any one of whom 
could, had they the gift of putting it into words, 
write a narrative out of their own actual experience 
during Civil War days that would be as stirring read- 
ing as any book of adventure in your libraries. On 
the breast of each of these old men, close to his heart, 
you may notice a modest little bronze button which 
he prizes above money value. Why? Because it is 
the certificate of his service — emblem of the Grand 

[5] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Army of which he is a member, an army of citizen 
soldiers which, dissolving victoriously out of one 
of the bitterest and hardest fought wars of his- 
tory into the paths of peace has adopted for its 
motto, "Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty." This badge 
no one else can wear but he who has the credentials 
of honorable service. The laws of our country for- 
bid it. It cannot be bought. The right to wear 
it cannot be transferred. A Bishop, shaking hands 
Avith me and noticing my bronze button, remarked 
that he would give ten years of his life for the right 
to wear that badge — he having been too young to 
serve in the war. 

After this little talk by way of introduction, I 
want to try to tell you of the experiences that just 
one boy went through in the great Civil War be- 
tween the Northern and Southern states, and how 
he has come to view them in his later years. This 
is not a story of the imagination. The scenes and 
events related were actual, mainly recalled by 
means of the writer's army letters written to his 
home people at the time or from his memory when 
the events stand out clear. It will inform you what 
sort of boys made up that magnificent army ; how 
they were dressed, what pay they received, how 
they were armed and equipped, what they suffered 
and endured and how they fought and died. 
Through their heroism you and all of us are enjoy- 
ing the wonderful privileges of our national life 
to-day. And by their example I have no doubt, 

[6] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

should the test ever be required, you boys will stand 
as firmly, shoulder to shoulder for the right and 
fight as bravely and manfully as they did, always 
bearing in mind, however, that as great, if not 
greater heroism is required for the righting of 
w^rongs in time of peace as amid the glare and ex- 
citement and turmoil of war. 

The Seventy-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, in which I served, was organized and mus- 
tered in at "Camp Sherman," Newark, Licking 
County, Ohio, on February 6, 1862. The ten com- 
panies composing it had previously been mustered 
into service at the same camp at various dates from 
October 1, 1861, to February 1, 1862. These com- 
panies had been raised at different points in the 
state — two (I and K) in my home county (Stark), 
one in Columbiana County and most of the others 
in Licking County and its vicinity. The original 
field and staff (regimental) officers were, if I am 
not mistaken, all from the latter county. 

Attached to the regiment at its organization was 
a regularly enlisted band of musicians, about twenty 
in number. But for some reason the Government 
before long got rid of this band and its members 
were mustered out on August 16, 1862, by order of 
the War Department. 

It is to be presumed the reason was that good, 
lusty young men with guns could render more 
effectual service than with musical instruments. At 
any rate this sort of a band was got rid of and their 

[7] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

place taken by a "fife and drum" squad, which fur- 
nished all the martial music necessary from that 
time to the close of the war — a squad just kept 
alive by an occasional boy recruit or detail from the 
ranks. I recall clearly a sturdy little fellow about 
12 years old, always at hand for duty. With his 
snare drum slung over his shoulder he kept up with 
the regiment in all its campaigning, absolutely tire- 
less, as a sort of rallying point for the fluctuating 
drum corps throughout the war. 

Regimental officers were a colonel, lieutenant 
colonel, major, surgeon, assistant surgeon, adjutant, 
quartermaster, sergeant major, quartermaster ser- 
geant, commissary sergeant and hospital steward. 
From the organization of the regiment until Octo- 
ber, 1862, we also had a chaplain, who was sup- 
posed to look after the spiritual interests of the 
troop. I remember him as a vivacious, good-heart- 
ed man, an Irishman, but the officers in command 
were a convivial set. He had headquarters and 
messed with them, and with his open hearted na- 
ture was led to cultivate spirituous rather than 
spiritual tendencies. He resigned in October, 1862, 
whether voluntarily or involuntarily I never learned, 
and from that time the government displayed no 
regard for any but the physical interests bearing on 
our carnal warfare. To the best of my recollection 
I did not hear a sermon in field or camp while in 
active service. Of religious organization among the 
troops within range of my observation there was 

[8] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

none whatever. Our dead, as a rule, were buried 
without religious rite or ceremony. If this hap- 
pened while in camp the band with muffled drums 
and an escort with reversed arms and slow and 
solemn tread to the tune of the "Dead March" ac- 
companied the body to its last resting place. The 
coffin was lowered and a volley fired over the grave. 
Then with drums unmuffled and to the tune of 
some such lively air as "The Girl I Left Behind 
Me" the burial party, at quick step, returned to 
quarters. I remember our funeral march was the 
tune "Portuguese Hymn," to which we usually 
sing the hymn "How Firm a Foundation," and to 
this day I never hear or join in it but it seems I 
can almost hear the muffled roll of drums and the 
plaintive accompaniment of the fife as some poor 
comrade was being borne to his long home in the 
South Land. Army life is always a serious strain 
on youthful character. In times of peace, amid the 
elevating influences of home life the paths are 
straight and more easily kept. But in the rough, 
demoralizing conditions of a soldier's life — the ab- 
sence of all the softening and restraining influences 
of religion, home and virtuous women, it is not 
strange that the test is too strong in many cases of 
bright young men who become reckless and demor- 
alized in character. On the other hand, is it not a 
tribute to the strength of young American man- 
hood that after years of the fiercest trials and temp- 
tations, so many returned to their homes strength- 

[9] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

ened in all the qualities that mark the true man? 
These were the men that helped so nobly to bring 
order out of chaos in the national development after 
the war. 

Coming now to the time and events of my own 
personal connection with the war as a soldier. I 
served through it as a member of Co. I, 76th Ohio 
Infantry. This company was recruited at Massil- 
lon, Ohio, and its members mustered into service 
from October 3, 1861 to January 9, 1862. They 
were mostly from Massillon and its vicinity. The 
commissioned officers were a captain, first lieuten- 
ant and second lieutenant. As to the personality of 
these officers on entering the service the captain 
was a man of staid character, about 40 years old. 
He had been superintendent of the Sunday school 
I attended, was a shop mate and old friend and 
neighbor of my father and held in excellent repute 
by the community. This reputation, I imagine, is 
what made him as successful as he was in recruit- 
ing his company. There was nothing of a military 
air about him — military tactics seemed to be out- 
side his sphere — so that matters of drills and sol- 
dierly training, so far as I can recall, were left as 
much as possible to his subordinate officers. But 
he was a careful, moral, kindly dispositioned man ; 
hence, if boys were determined to go to war parents 
were willing it should be under such a man. 

Our first lieutenant, next in command, was a born 
fighter and took naturally to the tactical part of a 

[10] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

military life. He was about 25 years old, liked his 
cups, but was a lively, companionable fellow and 
got along well with the boys. 

Our second lieutenant was an easy going charac- 
ter, lacking force, and it did not take him long to 
discover he was not fitted for his position and 
work. The hardships and dangers of a soldier's 
life were not adapted to his temperament, so that 
he threw up the sponge by resigning his commission 
in the fall of 1862, returning to the more peaceful, 
less hazardous pursuits of civil life. The non-com- 
missioned officers of the company consisted of three 
sergeants (the first being styled ''orderly" sergeant) 
and eight corporals. A full company was supposed 
to consist of 100 men, but this was seldom if ever 
maintained after first organization, owing to losses 
from various causes and delay in securing new re- 
cruits. Just here it will be appropriate for me to 
say something about the characteristics of our par- 
ticular company, which was perhaps typical of the 
Northern troops of the great war between citizen 
soldiers. All in all they were an intelligent, steady, 
sturdy lot of men — "boys" most of them would be 
called at home. Glancing over their muster roll, 
one would be impressed with the large proportion 
only 18 years old, the minimum age at which the 
government was supposed to permit enlistment. I 
have taken the pains to average the enrollment. 
During the period of the company's service from the 
beginning to the end of the war — a total of about 

[11] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

170 names — and find it about 22 years. This per- 
haps is too high, considering that a number of nine 
months drafted men assigned to it in 1863 were 
well advanced in years. I have felt safe to conclude 
that the average age of all the volunteers in this 
company during the war did not exceed 20 years. 
They came from all sorts of occupations in civil 
life, shops, stores, offices, farms, with no inconsid- 
erable portion of them out of the schools, breaking 
away from their studies to serve their country's 
need. 

At this period of the war and for some time later 
the government endeavored to supply comfortable 
shelter and easy transportation facilities for its 
armies. With us each company was allotted two 
army wagons (four horses or six mules to each 
team) for the transportation of knapsacks, tents 
and camp equipage. This naturally created long, 
unwieldy trains, which choked up the roads, de- 
layed marching and hindered rapid movement of 
the troops. Our company was supplied with per- 
haps a dozen good sized tents ("Wall," ''Wedge," 
"Sibley," etc.), all of which demonstrates the im- 
practical, inexperienced notions of our government 
authorities on the subject of warfare, especially 
one of the character and on the scale of that in 
which they were now involved. Any of our other 
wars of this generation had been boys' play in com- 
parison. Everything had to be learned — mostly 
through dearly bought and disastrous experience. 

[12] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Among the first essentials was the getting rid of 
all impediments not absolutely necessary, and it 
was not till this was recognized and acted on that 
results began to crystalize. One has but to compare 
the soldier of the earlier period, fitted out with his 
comfortable tent, well filled knapsack and abundant 
transportation — expecting the government to make 
his work as light and life as comfortable as possible, 
with the same individual of a year or two later, to 
realize what an effective transformation had been 
brought about. Resulting in the careless, tough, 
seasoned veteran, happy, content to possess a 
change of clothing, a blanket or rubber poncho, a 
meal of bacon and hard-tack in his haversack and a 
bed of leaves or fence rails. Thus always in light 
marching order, ready for a quick move or sudden 
dash. 

As to the personal equipment of a private soldier, 
clothing consisted of a dark blue blouse, light blue 
pants, forage caps, low, broad soled shoes ("bootees" 
the government styled them) and blue overcoat with 
cape. Each soldier carried a gray woolen blanket 
and a rubber blanket. Often in lieu of the latter a 
rubber ''poncho" having a slit in the center to slip 
over the shoulders in case of rain. Extra clothing 
and various knick-knacks were carried in a black 
oilcloth knapsack attached to the back by a strap 
over each shoulder. Food was carried in an oil 
cloth haversack hung by a strap from one shoulder, 
and water in a round, flat tin canteen (sometimes 

[13] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

canvas covered, but generally without) suspended 
from the other shoulder. About the waist was worn a 
substantial leather belt fastened in front with an 
oval shaped brass buckle on which were the letters 
U. S. On this belt were strung the munitions of 
war — cartridges in a strong leather box with a flap 
cover, over the right hip, a leather bayonet scabbard 
over the left hip and a leather cap box toward the 
front from the bayonet scabbard. Cartridge boxes 
were fitted to hold forty rounds. 

Our first guns were old second-hand Belgian 
rifles, a short, heavy, clumsy arm, with a vicious re- 
coil. It is said to often happen in the din of battle 
that men cannot tell when their guns "go ofif." 
These guns of ours always let us know without 
question when we fired them, for mine kicked hard 
enough to bruise my shoulder. They carried a 69- 
caliber conical ball, a ball as big around as my thumb 
and could by no means be relied on for accurate 
marksmanship. In December, 1862, however, we 
were pleased to exchange these for excellent bright, 
new Springfield rifles carying a 58-caliber conical 
ball. These were of the most approved workman- 
ship, thoroughly accurate, with adjustable sights, 
gauged for 500 and 1,000 yards. Cartridges for these 
were composed of a conical lead ball nearly if not 
quite an inch long, with a beveled hollow at the 
rear end. This was fitted and attached to a cylinder 
of heavy paper filled with powder, so constructed as 
to be readily torn by the teeth, ready for insertion 

[14] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

into the muzzle of the gun to be rammed home with 
the iron ramrod attached to the rifle. This shows 
that good teeth were essential to effective soldiering 
in those times. The distribution of these new guns 
was a memorable occasion for us. The metal qual- 
ity and finish of all were exactly alike. The wooden 
stocks were all black walnut, but some were beauti- 
fully grained, while others were plain, straight 
grained, and naturally there was a good deal of 
good natured struggle to secure the nicest looking 
stocks. I hadn't any of the qualities of a football 
rustler, so stood no chance with the older and bigger 
fellows, but was perfectly satisfied with what was 
assigned to me, in comparison with the old Belgian 
rifle I discarded. It stayed by me till displaced ac- 
cidentally during the siege of Vicksburg the follow- 
ing summer, as stated further on. 

When in camp, periodical inspections were held. 
At these the regiment was drawn up as for dress 
parade. Every soldier was required to appear with 
his uniform clean and tidy, shoes polished, gun and 
accoutrements clean, with all metal polished, knap- 
sack neatly packed and the rest of his equipment 
properly adjusted and in good order. In a short, 
quick campaign knapsacks were usually left back 
in store somewhere and only blanket and poncho 
carried in a long roll tied together at the ends and 
slung over the left shoulder around under the op- 
posite arm. Now, as to pay, bounties, especially 
local, varied widely, apparently depending on the 

[15] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

degree of difficulty in raising the quota of troops 
called for by the government and assigned to each 
and every certain sub-district in the North. Where 
patriotism prompted voluntary enlistment such 
quotas were speedily and easily filled without the 
inducement of large bounties. Otherw^ise these 
bounties were larger according to the difficulty in 
filling the quota, which if not filled by volunteers, 
made all men between 18 and 45 years of age sub- 
ject to draft and compulsory service. Up to the 
time of my enlistment government bounty was 
$100 and township bounty in my township $50. A 
year or year and a half later recruits who joined our 
regiment received $300 government bounty and 
largely increased local bounties. In many instances 
men drafted or liable to be drafted paid other men 
very large sums to serve as substitutes. 

In the course of the war our regiment presented 
a very decided variety of material from the mixture 
of these several classes. The earlier volunteers with 
least compensation, then drafted men who were 
soldiers under compulsion, then the later volunteers 
for heavy bounties and the substitutes serving for 
the large money consideration as representatives for 
other men. Naturally none were of the strong, 
even, steady timber of the first class — none better 
soldiers or better men than those of that class who, 
having served faithfully their three years, declined 
to re-enlist for any consideration. I do not design 
from the above comments that any one shall infer 

[16] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

there were not excellent soldiers in all classes. What 
I have said applies only in a broad sense to them as 
classes. 

A private's pay until about May, 1864, was $13 
per month ; after that $16. $45 was allowed an- 
nually for clothing supplied by the government at 
a certain schedule of prices. Any excess of this 
$45, should it be overdrawn in clothing, was 
deducted from pay, and in case the full $45 was not 
drawn in clothing the difference was added to pay. 

Theoretically each soldier was allowed a certain 
ration of food at a certain valuation, but in practice 
I never heard of any shortage — and there were fre- 
quent and lengthy periods when shortage was the 
rule — to be compensated for. 

The summer of 1862 found extra levies of troops 
necessary. The South was pressing into service 
every ablebodied man from youth to old age. Hardly 
any exemption was allowed. President Lincoln 
called for 600,000 more men to fill up depleted ranks 
of the Northern army and create new regiments to 
carry on the war. Many of the young men of my 
associates and acquaintance were already at the 
front and the fever was in me to be with them. In 
August, 1862, the captain of Co. I happened to be at 
home in Massillon on a recruiting mission for the 
76th Ohio, then in camp at Helena, Ark., after the 
Fort Donaldson, Shiloh and Corinth campaign, in 
which it had taken part. In his company were a 
number of my boyhood companions, among them a 

[17] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

brother-in-law. The 104th Ohio was being organ- 
ized in our locality and the war fever was stirred 
up with irresistible zeal and ardor, so that the regi- 
ment was being rapidly filled up with some of the 
best young men in our town and vicinity. I de- 
termined to enlist if possible. The government rule 
was not to enlist men under 18 years of age. I had 
just passed 16, but was sturdy, broad shouldered 
and had attained my full height. My father's con- 
sent was necessary, but the captain being a trusted 
friend, his presence and influence opened up my 
opportunity. Despite my youth I was accepted 
without question, not being subjected to the usual 
physical examination, except as to height, which 
was five feet five and one-half inches. This exemp- 
tion I attribute to the captain's management of my 
case, as he knew all about me. 

I will not dwell on the incidents of my enlistment, 
what plans for life were sacrificed by the act, the 
reluctant consent and sorrowful forebodings of my 
parents and all that. They were both intensely 
loyal ; my father himself felt almost impelled to 
enlist, but a family of five children, beside myself, 
to provide for under his very moderate financial cir- 
cumstances precluded his leaving them, to say noth- 
ing of his over 40 years of age ; therefore, it seemed 
right that I, the only one possible, should represent 
our family in this patriotic undertaking in view of 
his confidence in my captain and faith in my phys- 
ical and moral strength to stand up to it. He was 

[18] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

a strong, self-controlled man in those times, but my 
heart goes out to him yet as I recall the quiver of 
his lips as I signed the enlistment papers commit- 
ting me to such a hard, uncertain future. All honor 
to such parents ! What they suffered in the years 
that followed, while I, and later my twin brother, 
were passing through the storms and dangers and 
hardships of the war, only they or those who have 
likewise suffered can tell. 

I enlisted August 11, 1862, ''for three years or 
during the war," and left home to join the regiment 
at Helena, Ark., on August 18. The only other re- 
cruit accompanying us at this time was an elderly 
man some 45 years old. I account for the captain's 
ill success in securing volunteers for his company to 
the interest then prevailing in organizing the new 
104th Regiment, a recruiting camp for which had 
been established in West Massillon Grove. It was 
the center of recruiting energy and excitement and 
the accompanying military glamour and stirring 
patriotic appeal was attracting a high class of young 
men to that regiment, consequently it was not easy 
to interest men to enlist in older regiments down at 
the front, where newcomers would hardly be made 
to feel on a level with soldiers who had already the 
the prestige of considerable campaigning. 

Our route from Massillon was by rail to Cincin- 
nati, and from there down the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers to our destination. We took with us a trunk 
containing our own belongings and sundry articles 

[19] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

from friends and relatives for certain members of 
the company. The captain's business required his 
stopping over night at Columbus, the capital of 
Ohio, where the crowd was such that we had to try 
a half dozen or more hotels, and it was 2 o'clock in 
the morning before we succeeded in securing a place 
to lodge. 

At Cincinnati we were obliged to wait two or three 
days for transportation, and in the meantime were 
quartered with a miscellaneous lot of soldiers in bar- 
racks in the north part of the city. Here I had my 
first taste of army fare and learned something of the 
sensations a decent, self-respecting, sensitive fellow 
feels or suffers when first compelled to herd with all 
sorts of characters and seemingly lose his individuality. 
This came to me in such experiences as the rush and 
struggle to get a place at a long rough board table, 
only to get a slice of plain bread and cup of black cof- 
fee. Just like a drove of pigs trying to get at a trough. 
These meals were served with tin plates and cups, with 
knives, forks and spoons to match. However, such ex- 
periences were necessary to comb down whatever self- 
conceit any of us may have brought from home and 
prepare us for the almost loss of our identity in the 
trying practice of warfare into which we were about 
entering. While in this city we were at liberty, under 
the care of our captain, to roam about as we pleased in 
it, and met a number of acquaintances. As yet we had 
been supplied with no government clothing, and I 
bought a rubber poncho for $4 to insure protection 

[20] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

against rain in case of delay or failure to get one on 
reaching the regiment. August 21 we embarked on a 
steamboat for the final stage of our journey. It need 
hardly be said that I was thoroughly wide awake to 
and enjoyed all the novelty of this new fife to me. 
There were two or three stoppages along shore as we 
passed down the river which offered first-rate oppor- 
tunity to become initiated into the practice of foraging, 
and I took advantage of it to get a supply of melons, 
roasting ears, etc. As my captain not only winked at 
the proceeding, but smiled amiably, made no protest, 
and helped partake of the forage, I cannot recall that 
my conscience troubled me in the least at this radical 
departure from my home life principles. 

As we drew further into the South the grim signs of 
war were everywhere to be seen and the watchfulness 
of the military authorities more and more evident. 
We suffered no inconvenience from this till we reached 
Columbus, Ky., where our boat stopped and tied up a 
short time. It was night and pitch dark when we 
pulled out and doubtless the pilot or other officials mis- 
understood orders or made some mistake, for just after 
cutting loose from her moorings and starting down 
stream the dull boom of a cannon was heard, then an- 
other — then, as we continued on, another, followed by 
the whistle of a solid shot across the bow of our boat. 
It was only then that our boat was discovered to be the 
cause of all this racket and was brought back to shore 
with such a sharp right about that her paddle-wheels 
were injured. The difficulty, whatever it was, was 

[21] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

soon adjusted, the damage repaired, and we were al- 
lowed to pursue our way down stream without further 
interference. I felt I had had an unusual experience 
in being so early under artillery fire in my new mili- 
tary life. 

HELENA. 

Helena, Arkansas, was a small town, but an import- 
ant military station on the west side of the Mississippi 
river some fifty miles below Memphis, occupied by 
General Steele's division, of which our regiment was 
then a part. An expedition of these troops had just 
returned from down the river about Vicksburg, and 
came very near capturing that stronghold which after- 
ward caused us so much trouble and hardship. Our 
regiment was encamped a couple miles south of the 
town on high, level ground along the bank of the river, 
and it was here we joined them after a two weeks' trip 
from home. We were warmly received and immedi- 
ately taken into the good graces of the company. 
Among the things brought down in our trunk were a 
lot of dainties — canned fruit, etc., which proved a wel- 
come addition to the regular camp fare. I recall an 
amusing little incident which showed my "greeness.'" 
Our company cook, who was not averse to turning an 
honest penny by speculation, happened to have a barrel 
of apples to sell out to the boys. I had Ohio ideas of 
the value of apples, which, when I left home, were 
selling for about twenty-five cents a bushel, when not 

[22] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

given away, so I handed one of the boys a quarter and 
told him to pass the apples around. Imagine my sen- 
sations when he returned with just three little runts. 
The laugh was on me, but my exchequer was too lim- 
ited to make good my intention at that rate. I was 
taken into the mess of which my brother-in-law was 
one and which occupied a "Sibley" tent at the extreme 
left of the company line. These Sibley tents are 
shaped like an inverted top, the center-pole standing 
on an iron tripod. Men lie in them with feet towaro 
the center. With the help of my comrades I built a 
bunk of poles and old barrel staves which made as 
comfortable a bed as a cot. We two recruits were 
formed at once into an "awkward squad" and put to 
work to learn something of military tactics. For two 
weeks, in charge of some noncommissioned officer, 
we were drilled alone in the manual of arms, facings 
and marching. It must have been quite an amusing 
spectacle — my fellow recruit tall, long-limbed and 
loose-jointed — myself short, lithe and quick of move- 
ment. It was difficult for me to stretch my short legs 
and moderate my pace to the regulation step, and 
equally difficult for him to shorten his step and move 
his feet fast enough. However, in those two weeks 
we were accounted proficient enough to take place in 
the ranks and henceforward became one with them in 
the stirring experiences of the ensuing years of the 
war. 

I question whether any company in this war aggre- 
gated better qualities as soldiers than the original mem- 

[23] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

bers of this company — brave, clean-cut, intelligent 
young fellows most of them with whom I have always 
considered it an honor to have been associated, as well 
as with a regiment in whose record there is nothing to 
be ashamed of, its qualities being evidenced by the 
confidence and esteem in which it was held by com- 
manders of national repute. There is certainly some 
significance in the fact that this regiment from nearly 
the first organization of the noted 15th Corps — Sher- 
man's own — always maintained a leading place in the 
First Brigade, First Division of that corps. Other 
regiments were from time to time transferred from one 
organization to another, or consolidated and lost their 
identity so that the constituency of the brigade was 
constantly changing, but the 76th maintained its place 
and identity through all these changes, following close- 
ly at Sherman's heels from Vicksburg to the last grand 
review at the close of the war, in all the active cam- 
paigning of that superb and tireless commander. 

The routine of soldier life at Helena was monoto- 
nous. Drill eight hours daily, with the ordinary details 
for fatigue duty, gave us all the needful physical ex- 
ercise. Being close to the Mississippi, here about a 
mile wide, it was some pastime for me to watch the 
vessels moving up and down. The river bank was 
steep and abrupt. When the stream was low we got 
our drinking water out of springs that trickled out 
down along the face of the bank ; but often it was full 
up to the brim and then we had to use the river water 
which, while muddy, was healthful. The rapid rise 

[24] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

and fall of the river was a marvel to me. Some of the 
more daring of the boys occasionally indulged in a 
swim, but the swift, turbulent stream made it extreme- 
ly risky. Occasionally much excitement would be 
aroused in camp by sensational reports of Union vic- 
tories in the East. At one time in September it was 
positively asserted that Richmond had been taken, 
Longstreet killed, Lee and Jackson prisoners, etc., etc., 
and that the gunboats were preparing to fire two hun- 
dred rounds to celebrate the victory. The exultation 
among the troops can be imagined over the prospect of 
a speedy end of the war. I cannot understand why 
such reports were put in circulation. While they 
spurred the soldiers up for the moment, the truth was 
bound to come out with a correspondingly depressing 
and discouraging effect. 

But orders were received September i8 to get ready 
for movement at a moment's notice, and to my mind 
the above mentioned rumor was designed to inspirit 
the troops for the undertaking, whatever it might be. 
We received intimation that we were to be sent into 
Missouri or somewhere up river. Camp life took on 
an unusual bustle and stir of preparation, in expecta- 
tion of an active campaign, and on September 28 the. 
regiment was called out for inspection, the first in 
which I took part. Naturally I felt a good deal of 
trepidation in going through the ordeal but seemed to 
pass the test as well as the others. This inspection 
stands out vividly in my memory because of some very 
unusual proceedings connected with it. I suppose the 

[25] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

occasion was taken advantage of for a general cleaning 
up process in view of our being just about to break up 
camp at this place. After the inspecting officer had 
concluded his duties and before the regiment was dis- 
missed to quarters, four men convicted by court mar- 
tial were brought before it under guard. Three of 
these had been tried for desertion and one for insub- 
ordination. Their crimes and sentences were read to 
them in the hearing of the regiment and they were 
drummed in disgrace out of camp, one deserter to be 
taken to the military prison at Alton, Illinois, to work 
out the term of his enlistment and forfeit all pay from 
August 8, 1862, the date of his desertion. The other 
two deserters were sentenced to hard labor for six 
months and to forfeit $10 of each month's pay for that 
period — from which it is to be inferred that there may 
be some extenuating circumstances attached to the 
serious crime of desertion, else the sentences of the 
last two would not have been so much less severe than 
that of the first. I did not learn the circumstances of 
any as it was before my connection with the regiment 
that they had deserted. The insubordinate, after being 
drummed out of camp, was dishonorably discharged — 
possibly a consummation he was devoutly glad for in 
order to get out of service. This condition of prepara- 
tion and expectancy continued till October 6, with 
nothing in particular to vary the routine of camp life, 
the program of which one of my letters details as fol- 
lows : Reveille, then breakfast ; skirmish drill 7 to 8 
A. M. ; roll call at 10 — again at 3 p. m. ; drill an hour 

[26] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

or more from 4 ; dress parade at sundown ; taps at 8. 
The mention of skirmish drill suggests to me to ex- 
plain that our company (I) always had position on the 
left flank of the regiment and Company A on the right, 
usually the march was in column with files of four 
men, Company A leading and ours in the rear. In 
line of battle. Company A on the right, ours on the left 
flank, colors in the center. In skirmishing these two 
flanking companies were deployed in advance of the 
rest, covering its front. When the enemy was en- 
countered and took a stand these two companies fell 
back into their places with the regiment. This par- 
ticular duty required that these two flanking com- 
panies become expert in skirmish drill which involved 
some tactics different from the ordinary. 

PILOT KNOB. 

On October 6, 1862, having drawn ten days' rations 
and replaced the old cartridges in our cartridge boxes 
with fresh ones, we broke camp at Helena, boarded 
transports and started up the Mississippi. As this was 
for me the beginning of considerable river transport 
experience, it may be well to give a brief description 
of it. There is something pleasant about the idea of a 
steamboat ride, but with the limited number of boats at 
"Uncle Sam's" service and the crude accommodations, 
there was a good deal of discomfort in a trip of this 
kind. Men, horses, artillery and baggage were crowd- 
ed together indiscriminately. The commissioned ofli- 

[27] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

cers of course had the cabin and cook-room accommo- 
dations, while the rest of us located wherever we could 
find space enough to lay a blanket. We had it so much 
better than the cattle that we might sleep in the gang- 
way around the cabin, or on the hurricane deck with 
nothing but the sky above us. This latter, when the 
weather admitted, was preferable to the close, crowded 
conditions of the lower deck, though the cinders from 
the smokestacks and consequent smut were always an- 
noying. 

At the end of a five days' trip we disembarked at 
St. Genevieve, Missouri, on October ii, and lay there 
till the 17th. I cannot recall much about the little, old, 
dilapidated river town. One little thing I can't forget 
was the dropping overboard of a fierce-looking Bowie- 
knife out of its scabbard at my belt as I stepped down 
the gang-plank from bank to shore. This knife had 
been presented to me by a schoolmate just as I was 
leaving home with the intention that I was to shed the 
life-blood of a legion of foemen with it. No oppor- 
tunity had yet presented itself to stain its bright blade 
with sanguinary gore — but meantime I had found it 
very convenient for heavy whittling and cutting ba- 
con. On shore I was one of a detail to guard the 
dwelling of a citizen of the town — a very agreeable 
duty. Our hosts showed their appreciation of our 
services by a most generous hospitality, and it was 
indeed a treat to sit again at a table covered with 
home-like fare and served in home fashion. One arti- 
cle, however, was set before us that I had never found 

[28] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

on our home table — Missouri peach brandy. It was 
seductively rich and mellow-looking and if our hosts 
hadn't called it brandy I probably would have taken it 
for peach syrup and become ingloriously "boozy." I 
abstained, but some of my companions drank it for 
what it was and got its natural effects. I never think 
of St. Genevieve but there comes to me the memory 
of its plank roads which our colonel took such a fancy 
to in showing us off at regimental drill — we could 
*'order" arms so effectively. 

October 17 we started inland for Pilot Knob, forty- 
five miles distant, reaching there after a three days* 
march. Here we remained in camp about a month, 
suffering a good deal from ill fare and cold weather. 
From some cause supplies were very backward in 
reaching us, close as we were to such a depot as St. 
Louis, and a riot was nearly precipitated till the threats 
of our colonel woke our commissary to more energetic 
efforts in behalf of his men. 

I took a heavy cold accompanied by a distressing 
cough and retain a very grateful recollection of the 
motherly nursing of the captain's wife, who had come 
down tO' visit him during the period of our encamp- 
ment at Pilot Knob. Pilot Knob is a great iron center, 
*Tron mountain," a mass of almost pure iron, being 
only a couple miles distant. At this camp I saw the 
only snow of my three winters of army life. What 
renders it more memorable is the circumstance of 
stepping out of my tent next morning and being 
shocked at the sight of the body of one of our boys 

[29] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 



1 



who had died, lying exposed under an open tent-fly 
and nearly covered with snow. We suffered much for 
want of blankets and overcoats, which it seemed im- 
possible for the quartermaster to supply. While here 
our second lieutenant returned from home on a fur- 
lough and brought for me a lot of very acceptable re- 
membrances from my folks— comforter, mittens, i 
wristlets, etc. He failed, however, to bring with him a i 
box that had been expressed to me to St. Louis, con- | 
taining boots and some other things. This box, by the 
way, never reached me and was never recovered. It 
appears the express companies refused to become liable 
for the loss of such packages during the w^ar. 

Leaving Pilot Knob about the middle of November, 
we marched back to St. Genevieve over the same road 
wt had come. On the second day of this march I was 
connected with a little incident it may be of interest to 
relate. Somewhat enfeebled by my late sick spell and 
becoming very tired, I crept into one of the wagons in 
our train and found rather crowded quarters to lie 
down and rest on top of the load of tents. After a 
while a negro, also sick and faint, crept in. I made no 
objection and paid no attention to him, but a member 
of my company strolling by, somewhat primed with 
Missouri peach brandy, discovered the intrusion. With 
blood in his eye, he ordered my companion out, which 
not being done with sufficient alacrity my champion up 
with his rifle and put a bullet into the negro's hat. That 
hustled him off in a great hurry and I have always 
thought he might thank Missouri peach brandy that 

[30] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the bullet went through his hat instead of his head. 
Cussing the presumption of the colored man and vvith 
the air of having done his duty by his comrade, my 
champion pursued his uneven way. 

Embarking at St. Genevieve w^e started on trans- 
ports down the Mississippi again on an expedition that 
was the prelude of the long series of operations leading 
up to the siege and capture of Vicksburg. Something 
certainly was out of gear with our commissary depart- 
ment. We soon ran out of crackers and bread entirely, 
and were left with nothing but beans to subsist on. 
Our quarters on the boat were frightfully filthy. I had 
had no opportunity to wash clothing the last three 
weeks, so that my outfit consisted of two dirty shirts 
and a pair of dirty drawers in my knapsack, and the 
suit I had on. Vermin infested our quarters and per- 
sons and it was utterly impossible to get rid of them 
under the conditions. 

At Memphis some provisions were brought aboard 
but the quality was execrable. The first hardtack I 
got hold of I laid down and contrived to break vvith my 
fist, liberating a fat maggot about an inch long. As- 
sault on the next exposed three of the "critters." I had 
a strong stomach and ravenous appetite, but drew the 
line at maggots. I did not disturb any more of their 
abiding places in that lot of hardtack. 

Twice on the way down we stuck on sand-bars. On 
the first occasion, about fifty miles above Cairo, in or- 
der to lighten the vessel the soldiers were put ofif on an 
island (Devil's Island) in the midst of a drizzling rain. 

[31] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

A couple of us built a shelter of cordwood, but our 
quarters were so cramped my companion preferred 
outside conditions. In his straggling about hunting 
shelter he ran across a ferry-boat, "The Davenport," 
and we managed to get aboard it. Finding our way 
back to our transports next morning we found our 
haversacks had been rifled and the precious little food 
we had, gone. 

CAMP STEELE. 

The evening of November 22 found us moored near 
our old camping station — Helena, Arkansas. The un- 
derstanding was we were to disembark here and details 
had been made to unload the company goods, when the 
order was countermanded. Later an encampment was 
selected across the river and named "Camp Steele," in 
honor of our division commander. Here we went into 
comfortable quarters for several weeks pending organ- 
ization for the great Vicksburg campaign which was 
soon to be inaugurated. While at this camp some two 
hundred to three hundred drafted men assigned to our 
regiment joined us, our company taking about thirty 
of them. Here, also, we discarded our old cumbersome 
Belgian rifles which, as heretofore mentioned, were 
replaced with new Springfields, As we were in posi- 
tion while stationed along the river to draw flour occa- 
sionally our officers made a dicker with the river men 
whereby to get funds for the purchase of a portable 
bakery. 

[32] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

The regiment at its leisure was set to cutting 
wood for use of the river steamers, which they were 
only too glad to do in order to vary their monotonous 
hardtack diet with nice fresh bread. Unfortunately, 
we were never able to contrive any measures by which 
we could get butter to spread on it. Sutlers kept it 
sometimes, but sixty cents to one dollar per pound put 
it out of reach for thirteen-dollars-a-month men. Once 
or twice, in desperate yearning, I bought a pound 
and the delight to my palate is fresh in memory yet. 
I think I disposed of each at a single sitting. We had 
the good fortune to run across a good-sized hand-mill 
and were able to add mush and ''pone" to our bill of 
fare, much to the satisfaction of an odd character of 
our company who liked mush and was orten heard to 
sigh, 'Tf I had some meal I'd have some mush, if I 
had some milk." About this period of the war it be- 
came apparent that for more effective service baggage 
would have to be cut down and wagon trains reduced, 
and radical measures were taken to bring this about. 
Orders were received that but six wagons were to be 
allowed hereafter to each regiment for quartermaster's 
use (provision and clothing supplies) and six for gen- 
eral regimental use. This meant, among other results, 
that we must carry our knapsacks on the march. Quite 
an undertone of dissatisfaction and resentment was 
aroused by the intimation that our company tents were 
to be discarded and each soldier, hereafter, like a snail, 
carry his own house. 'Tup tents" these new contri- 
vances were dubbed by the soldiers, for the reason 

[33] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

that, like a dog, one had to get down on all fours to 
crawl under them. "Shelter tents" they were desig- 
nated by the quartermaster department, but the deri- 
sive term "pup tent" stuck to them during the war 
and after. These were simply oblong pieces of light, 
firm cotton ducking about the size of a small blan- 
ket. Each piece had a row of buttons along one 
edge and button-holes along the opposite edge. Each 
soldier was supposed to carry one. By fastening 
two together and setting them up in the form of a 
tent with an inverted gun, bayonet down, or a stick, 
at each end for support, quite a serviceable shelter 
was secured. Theoretically the idea seemed good 
and practical, but somehow or other they never 
became popular used in that manner, the ultimate 
result being that the seasoned veteran preferred tak- 
ing weather chances with only his woolen blanket 
and rubber poncho, not considering the "pup tent" 
of sufficient value to warrant the labor of carry- 
ing it. 

Nearly a month's rest and preparation in the invig- 
orating atmosphere and healthful conditions of Camp 
Steele had put new vigor in the troops — the drafted 
recruits had been assimilated by continuous drill with 
the older soldiers so that they could take their place in 
the regimental evolutions ; with our new rifles we felt 
equipped for more effective work, and everything 
seemed ripe and auspicious for a forward movement. 



[34] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

CHICKASAW BAYOU. 
We left Camp Steele in the latter part of December, 
1862, to take part in the ill-fated Chickasaw Bayou 
affair in an attempt to capture Vicksburg. The expe- 
dition was under command of General Sherman, who 
left Memphis with three other divisions of troops, thir- 
ty thousand m.en, December 20, and was joined by ours 
(Steele's), twelve thousand men, on the way down. 
The purpose of this expedition was to co-operate with 
a force under the direct command of General Grant, 
who had already started inland from Memphis on his 
march toward Vicksburg. However, by the disgrace- 
ful and disastrous surrender of Grant's depot of sup- 
plies at Holly Springs, Mississippi, on December 20 — 
the very day Sherman started on his way down the 
river — Grant was compelled to retreat back to Mem- 
phis. It was impossible to get a dispatch to Sherman 
in tim.e to head him off, and we were left, in ignorance 
of Grant's failure, to our hopeless undertaking. We 
reached Milliken's Bend, near the mouth of the Yazoo 
river, Christmas eve, and started up the Yazoo Decem- 
ber 26, convoyed by Porter's gunboat fleet, landing at 
Chickasaw Bayou. Of this unfortunate and dismal en- 
terprise I will mainly refer to what occurred under my 
own personal observation and in w^hich I was directly 
involved. Here I was initiated into the terrifying, 
bloody realities of warfare, far different from anything 
I had yet experienced. No engagement in which I was 
afterward involved impressed m.e with the nightmarish 
sensations of this one. On the 27th the other three 

[35] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

divisions of our army were deployed along the right 
toward Vicksburg, some fifteen miles distant, while we 
of Steele's division were assigned the extreme left, or 
east end, of the assaulting column. We were disem- 
barked above a slough or bayou running into the 
Yazoo, north of Chickasaw Bayou, and our com- 
pany was immediately thrown out as a skirmish 
line in advance of the regiment. Moving forward, 
our way was through a field overgrown with cockle- 
burrs, a great thicket of them higher than our 
heads and crowned with the dry burrs which show- 
ered down on us at a touch. Midway in this my 
cap was knocked ofif and that instant my head 
was a mass of the prickly things which I had no 
time to stop and detach. I simply had to clap my cap 
on top until an opening was reached where we stopped 
a few moments to take breath and allign our ranks. 
Good suits were practically ruined by that brief cockle- 
burr raid, they stuck with such persistency. Getting 
out of this field we entered swampy forest land that 
blockaded further progress. The only means of 
getting through this was a single corduroy road- 
way running toward the enemy's lines at the blufif 
and which was covered by batteries that could 
have mowed our columns down as fast as they made 
an appearance. As it was they could have shelled 
us unmercifully, had they been aware of our posi- 
tion. But doubtless their attention was fully 
occupied meeting the assault of our men on the 
other side of the bayou. We could plainly hear 
their cheers and the roll of musketry as they made 

[36] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

charge after charge, and were much elated with a re- 
port passed along the line, "Morgan's got the bluff," 
which, however, turned out to be untrue. We learned 
later that Sherman had ordered a charge by our divi- 
sion over the corduroy road in our front, but that Gen- 
eral Steele, who had carefully inspected the situation, 
convinced him of the fearful slaughter and certain re- 
pulse that must result from such an attempt — so the 
order was withdrawn, very fortunately for us as shown 
by the facts afterwards ascertained. 

With no chance to operate where we were, our divi- 
sion returned to the transports and was transferred to 
the south side of Chickasaw Bayou in support of the 
troops engaged there. We marched along the south 
bank of the bayou to where it turned southward, and 
crossed by a bridge into heavy timbered woods, where 
our brigade formed in support of troops already en- 
gaged in our immediate front. Our position here was 
extremely galling and trying to the nerves. While the 
regim.ents in our advance were assaulting, we were 
within easy range of the enemy's artillery fire, their 
shells crashing through the trees over and about us, 
while sharpshooters hidden out of sight were busy 
picking off officers in the regiments just in front of us. 
We were utterly helpless to defend or protect our- 
selves, and compelled to stand — or lie down — in 
line of battle and endure it. Added to this, ambu- 
lances loaded with wounded men from the front, 
and wounded men able to walk, were streaming 
past us to the rear from the storm of battle in 

[37] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

plain view and into which we were gradually mov- 
ing forward. Night came on at this stage of af- 
fairs, compelling a cessation of hostilities, with the 
regiment still in battle line. I was detailed for 
picket duty off to the left and front of our position, 
where the woods ended at the border of a sandbar, 
which, considering the exhaustion caused by the ardu- 
ous and trying day's work, was pretty near the limit of 
my endurance. Rain poured down in torrents all night 
and my rubber poncho, which I put up for shelter, did 
not save me from the thick, sticky, miry clay in which 
I had to wallow trying to get a little sleep when not on 
outpost duty. Then, too, the enemy searched the woods 
all night with shell, so that between the various causes 
of disturbance sleep and rest were well nigh imix)ssible. 
While standing lonely and forlorn at my picket station, 
carefully scanning the sandy waste between me and the 
rebel lines, a screech-owl suddenly flew up near me 
with one of its unearthly cries and almost scared the 
wits out of me. I had never heard anything of the kind 
before and must admit it almost made my hair stand 
up. As day began to dawn we joined our regiment, 
which lay in the position we had left it. The fighting 
in our front was not renewed. The futility of further 
assault there became apparent, and Sherman decided 
to try something different, a "cold steel" night assault 
on the right flank of the enemy's line at Haines Bluff, 
a short distance up the Yazoo river. For this, ten 
thousand picked men, our regiment among them, were 
selected. With the utmost quiet and secrecy arrange- 

[38] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

ments were made for withdrawal from the front and 
the advance to the attack. Rifles were ordered unload- 
ed, and carefully inspected to see this was done. After 
sundown, in the black darkness, we were noiselesslv 
withdrawn from the front, guns at ''trail arms" to 
avoid any reflection on gun-barrels, so that our move- 
ment might not be detected by the enemy. At the river 
this force embarked on transports (ours and two other 
regiments aboard the "Empress," so crowded there was 
only just standing room) and convoyed by Porter's 
gunboats in advance, started up stream toward Haines 
Bluff. The prevalent feeling was that this was a "for- 
lorn hope." Oflicers braced themselves up with whisky 
and steadied "file closers" by the same means. Pri- 
vates, I suppose, were slighted only because there 
wasn't enough of the stimulant to go round. But prov- 
identially, just at this juncture, so dense a fog settled 
down over the scene that Porter could not safely man- 
euver his gunboats and he advised a postponement of 
the attack, so it was put off till next night. That hap- 
pened to be clear with a full moon not setting until 
about five o'clock in the morning, which would have 
made the assault practically a daylight affair and 
doomed to defeat, so it was abandoned — again very 
fortunately for us in the light of the situation as we 
afterwards learned it. 

Grant's failure to co-operate as arranged and his re- 
tirement northward left the Confederate army free to 
consolidate their whole strength against Sherman's 
forces. With their full force and strong position con- 

[39] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

fronting us and the almost impassable character of the 
flat, swampy land, covered with quicksands over which 
Sherman had to move his troops, and then only a couple 
points at which it was possible to get them across the 
bayou, made his case hopeless from the beginning. 
The Yazoo river was rising rapidly, threatening to 
overflow the low ground occupied by our army. Trees 
bordering the river bank showed high water marks a 
number of feet above the level of the land. There was 
nothing left to do but retreat, and accordingly the 
troops were rapidly embarked and the expedition with- 
drawn down the Yazoo to the Mississippi. 

ARKANSAS POST. 
Reaching the Mississippi, Sherman surrendered 
command of his army to General McLarnand, by whom 
he had been superseded in the new shuffle that had been 
made by the war department, though he still retained a 
subordinate command. The result of this enterprise was 
exceedingly dispiriting and it is not strange that Sher- 
man's star was for the time under a cloud. The fault 
of the failure was not his. No one under the circum- 
stances could have accomplished more. Censure, if 
any, should be put upon Grant's command for its fail- 
ure to co-operate according to agreement, and yet the 
causes for that could not be foreseen and were unavoid- 
able so far as the commander was concerned. Sherman 
displayed his sterling loyalty, however, by his unswerv- 
ing faithfulness and steady purpose under ill treatment 
by his superiors in authority, and misunderstandings 

[40] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

by his critics, newspaper men especially, who had such 
harsh, unkind things to say of him concerning his 
views and conduct. It must be admitted, too, that his 
soldiers up to this time had not come to recognize his 
able generalship displayed later in the war. 

McLernand now assumed command of the 15th 
corps, of which we were part, and at Sherman's sug- 
gestion moved against Arkansas Post, or fort" Hind- 
man. The fleet left Milliken's Bend January 4, 1863, 
ascending the Mississippi to White and Arkansas riv- 
ers, then up the latter to the fort one hundred and fifty 
miles from its mouth. Landing the regiment with oth- 
er troops three miles below the fort, it was quickly in- 
vested and with the aid of gunboats in front, taken by 
assault on the nth. In this affray our company lost 
fourteen killed and wounded, among the latter my 
brother-in-law. Hunting him up next morning I found 
him on a hospital boat with a severe musket wound in 
the hip, the ball ranging from the belt line downward 
toward the under side of the leg. Though his wound 
had been dressed the surgeons had not been able to 
locate and extract the ball. (This wound, by the way, 
discharged him, and quite a while after being home the 
ball worked itself to a place just under the skin, where 
he himself cut it out.) 

The scene about this boat was significant of the hor- 
rors of battle. The river was low and a road had been 
cut through the bank down to the lower deck of the 
transport, that was being used for hospital purposes. 
Just beside this road, up on the bank, were several 

[41] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

fresh mounds where had been buried soldiers who died 
under or after operation. On the bow of the lower 
deck was a stack of coffins ready for use. Ascending 
the stairway to the cabin deck we passed through the 
office, then being utilized as an operating room, into 
the cabin. Just at that moment the surgeons had on 
the table a mere boy — one with a knife between his 
teeth probing a bullet wound in the head, others hold- 
ing the victim down by main force. The long cabin 
was filled with wounded men lying in rows on the floor 
with feet to center and an aisle along the center. 1 
found the object of my search at the farther end, feel- 
ing as buoyant and comfortable as the nature of his 
wound admitted. Just across the aisle from him lay a 
handsome fellow with both arms ofif at the shoulder. 
There was something about his look that has haunted 
me ever since — his eyes with a phosphorescent glow, 
and pale though not ghastly face. My brother-in-law 
afterwards told me he died before reaching St. Louis, 
where the wounded were sent. I mention this particu- 
lar case because of a very strange coincidence connect- 
ed with it in my after life. Some years after the war 
I removed to Wisconsin and some thirty-five years after 
its close happened on a brief visit in a city in the south- 
west part of the state. My host, a recent acquaintance, 
had been a soldier and we naturally discussed the ex- 
periences of that time, as old soldiers are wont to do. 
In some incidental reference to the battle of Arkansas 
Post he stated that his wife had lost a relative (a 
cousin if I remember correctly) in that fight and men- 

[42] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

tioned the peculiar nature of his wound — both arms 
taken off at the shoulder, and that he had died on a 
hospital boat on the way to St. Louis. This excited my 
interest and I related my hospital boat visit and de- 
scribed the man I had seen. It left no doubts in our 
minds of his identity. It certainly is wonderful that 
nearly forty years after this battle on a distant southern 
field, I was able to identify this stranger whom I had 
seen just for a moment and learn his name. 

YOUNG'S POINT. 

Arkansas Post surrendered January ii, 1863. From 
there we descended the Arkansas river and the 17th 
found us at Napoleon, near its mouth. The events of 
this trip are foggy in my mind and I have no particular 
record of them, but Vicksburg was becoming the center 
of concentration for the next campaign, and the move- 
ments leading up to further operations against that 
stronghold sent us down the Mississippi again, to 
Young's Point, Louisiana, nearly opposite Vicksburg, 
where we encamped the latter part of January, 1863. 
Here we entered on a long series of attempts to get at 
that city, which had resisted capture for over five 
months. An interesting volume might be written of 
the scenes and events of this memorable campaign, and 
in telling those of my own personal observation and 
experience as a private soldier participant it is difificult 
to decide where to begin and where to stop. General 
Grant himself had taken charge, aggressive, tenacious, 

[43] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

and resourceful. War histories detail the efforts by 
various routes and expedients to reach the city and cir- 
cumvent it. I need only to refer to those in which I 
happened to take part. 

Young's Point is a tongue of land formed by a long 
bend in the river, just opposite Vicksburg. Across this 
point was cut the famous canal designed to enable our 
fleet to pass from above to below Vicksburg out of 
range of batteries on bluffs north and south of the city. 
Our regiment camped along the railway which ter- 
minated at De Soto (just across the river from Vicks- 
burg), and we were about a mile from the canal. This 
point was low and flat, a level considerably below that 
of the river from which it was protected by strong 
levees. Sanitary conditions were unhealthy to an ex- 
treme from lack of good drinking water, bad drainage, 
and malarial surroundings. Drinking water was reach- 
ed by digging only a couple of feet, and was stagnant. 
Dead bodies were buried when possible on the levee, 
otherwise in very shallow graves, on account of water 
being so close to the surface. The whole atmosphere 
of the place was gloomy and depressing, aggravated 
especially at night by the piping and creaking and 
croaking of all sorts of creatures in the woods and 
swamps. 

At this place we lay for about three months, until 
just before the final movement began to get to the rear 
of Vicksburg by crossing at Grand Gulf down the 
river. We stopped a few days at Milliken's Bend, our 
depot of supplies on higher ground. These three 

[44] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

months were not spent in idleness. With much that 
was demoraHzing, and dispiriting and pathetic, there 
was a mixture of happenings that were intensely inter- 
esting and exciting. The nine months drafted recruits 
suffered most from the unhealthy conditions, doubtless 
aggravated by homesickness ; they seemed to succumb 
so easily and quickly when sickness seized them. We 
lost seven by death in our company alone in the short 
time we lay here. As much perhaps for exercise and to 
keep our thoughts occupied as for any expectation of 
its successful operation, we were set to work to dig the 
canal wider and deeper. This created a good deal of 
feeling of discontent and resentment among the troops, 
and much ominous grumbling over this and the general 
situation as expedient after expedient met with defeat. 
The men could and were perfectly willing to march 
and fight even unto death. But this helpless waiting 
and digging ditches, and disease and ignoble way of 
dying were very hard to endure with patience. How- 
ever, our regiment was assigned a strip one hundred 
and sixty feet long, sixty feet wide and six feet deep 
to dig, and we set to work in line with other troops as- 
sociated with us in this task. Still others were put to 
work on the roads, improving them. The soil was a 
stiff clay and our job a nasty, sticky one, as may be 
imagined. In this connection I had one of the few 
close views of General Grant that I was favored with 
during the war — the first I had seen of him. It im- 
pressed me strongly with the modesty and lack of pre- 
tense of this great general. He came without any os- 

[45] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

tentation, almost alone, to inspect the work being done 
on the canal, and stood a while watching our company. 
I remember the attitude so characteristic of him, as he 
stood smoking the inevitable cigar, and with one hand 
in his pants pocket. Eventually this canal was finished 
and the head-gates opened to let the waters of the Mis- 
sissippi flow in. If there had been any expectation, or 
hope, that the channel would wash deeper, it was soon 
dispelled. The canal filled all right with a good cur- 
rent through it, but the stiff clay bottom refused to 
wash any deeper, consequently the river boats were 
never able to pass through. On the contrary, it was 
destined to cause us no little trrable before we got 
through with it. The inland embankment was a path- 
way for us on several expeditions along shore down 
the river. One day, while we were on one of these, 
this embankment gave way about at its center, washing 
a crevasse through which a fierce torrent swept, flood- 
ing the lower country. This compelled our return, and 
it was with considerable difficulty that the regiment was 
ferried around the break. The suction was so great that 
a couple of boatloads were drawn through the crevasse. 
On one of these our drum-major and a sergeant, be- 
coming panic-stricken, jumped from the boat to a tree 
standing midway in the current, out of which they were 
rescued only after hard work and at considerable risk. 
This was finally effected by yawlsmen from the gun- 
boats who were expert in shooting the rapids, and after 
several attempts succeeded in getting both off safely, 
but nearly exhausted. 

[46] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

There seemed to be no means at hand to stop the 
crevasse. I do not recall that it was attempted. But 
piles were driven from the embankment above to that 
below, some distance out and around the break, and on 
top of them, a perilous board walk constructed, over 
which passage was possible but very hazardous. We 
lost two or three of our mxCn thus, but human life was 
not accounted much in those days, and if a private 
dropped off occasionally and was seen no more it caused 
but a momentary ripple of commotion. Violent rain 
and electric storm^s are characteristic of this locality. 
An instance : February 14 our whole company was 
sent out over night on picket duty some three hundred 
yards on the opposite side of the railway along which 
we were camped. Rain poured down in torrents all 
night and the lightning was terrific. It was dangerous 
to carry a gun, so we stuck them, bayonet down, in 
the ground, and walked our beat some distance off. 
On our return to quarters in the morning we learned 
that a tent in Company B had been struck, a sergeant 
killed and a corporal and several others severely in- 
jured. Camp was flooded and everything soaked. 
March 10 the paymaster put in an appearance and we 
received two months' dues, leaving our wages four 
months in arrears. I had been going barefoot the pre- 
vious two weeks, being unable to procure a pair of 
army shoes, so was obliged to pay the sutler five dol- 
lars out of my twenty-six dollars for a pair of boots. 

Though the days were getting to be uncomfortably 
warm we were subjected to four hours drill daily, two 

[47] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

roll calls, dress parade and various details. If a man 
died a detail had to be sent up to Milliken's Bend, our 
depot of supplies, for a coffin. Which reminds me of 
an incident that illustrates how calloused men can be- 
come by familiarity with such gruesome scenes. One 
drafted man had died, and another was lying very low. 
In the detail sent to draw a coffin for the dead man was 
a young fellow who had a *'Gol darn it" for everything 
that did not suit him. The trip was a tiresome one and 
he insisted on our taking back a coffin for the sick man. 
"Gol darn it, he'll be dead by the time we get back 
there," he argued. We couldn't do it — but sure enough, 
the sick man expired before we returned, and another 
detail had to be made on his account. 

In the latter part of March we happened to be par- 
ticipants and witnesses in a very notable and interest- 
ing adventure. One Monday, just after dinner, the 
regiment was suddenly ordered to load up with sixty 
rounds of ammunition to each man and two days' ra- 
tions in haversacks ; then hurriedly marched down to 
Briggs' Plantation, below the canal, about eight miles 
from camp. We got around the crevasse over the frail 
board pathway heretofore mentioned, in process of 
which three men, overcome with dizziness, dropped 
off and were drowned. It was all I could do to make 
the passage safely. Arriving at the plantation about 
eight o'clock that evening, we bivouaced all night on 
the levee. It was bitterly cold, and having no covering 
but my poncho I nearly froze. We were held here all 
next day, waiting for what we knew not, but were 

[48] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

soon to find out. The rams ''Lancaster" and "Switz- 
erland" were about to run the gauntlet of the Vicks- 
buro- batteries, and we were afterwards informed that 
in case they came down safely our regiment was to 
embark on them for an assault on Warrenton, across 
the river some ten miles below Vicksburg. About 9 
p. M. we were posted behind the levee. As day began 
to dawn next morning we were aroused by heavy can- 
nonading up the river as the devoted vessels started 
on their perilous way down. From some cause they 
were delayed too long, so that it was fair daylight 
when they got in range of the enemy's batteries. From 
where we viewed the scene these batteries, below 
Vicksburg, were in plain sight, and the spectacle 
opened up to us as the rams rounded the bend and the 
miles of batteries opened up their storm of shot and 
shell was magnificent beyond my powers of description. 
The Lancaster was riddled and sunk while rounding 
the bend. Most of her crew, we afterward learned, 
got ashore at De Soto, on our side, some in a horribly 
scalded condition. The Switzerland, disabled and 
badly cut up, came drifting down helplessly by the 
current, and as she approached our front was taken in 
tow by the gunboat Albatross, which, with the flagship 
Hartford, were in waiting. Just before this her daring 
crew could be seen streaming up on deck and as the 
vessel swung around with the current, gave the enemy 
a saucy parting shot. The disabled ram was brought 
to our shore and then we witnessed another spectacu- 
lar scene. Farragut's flagship, Hartford, slowly 

[49] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

steamed across the river to Warrenton and shelled the 
fortifications there. She was a double-deck vessel, and 
delivering broadside after broadside the air seemed 
full of bursting shells and must have made pretty hot 
quarters for the enemy. This ended this drama, which 
fortunate as we were in suffering no disaster I would 
not have missed for a good deal. We were ordered 
back to camp feeling amply repaid for the wear and 
tear undergone to witness it. What the result might 
have been had the rams succeeded in getting safely 
down is a problem that I quake to think about. It 
was told, after the fall of Vicksburg, that the enemy 
had observed our movement down the river and had 
hurried a brigade of troops to Warrenton ; so, had it 
been the intention to attack that place we would have 
met with a warm reception. 

Another interesting episode was what was called the 
Deer Creek expedition — one of Grant's several but in- 
effective attempts to get above Vicksburg on the Ya- 
zoo. Taking transports up the Mississippi we were 
landed at Greenville and marched forty-five miles in- 
land to Deer Creek, a stream flowing southward into 
the Yazoo. The purpose was — in co-operation with 
other troops — to gain a lodgement above Haines Bluff, 
where we were repulsed the preceding winter. So far 
as concerned our detachment, some little skirmishing 
at Deer Creek was all that resulted. We were marched 
back to Greenville and returned to our camp at 
Young's Point. An amusing little side scene occurred 
on this trip that it may be worth while to relate. As 

[50] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

we turned back from Deer Creek, a lot of colored peo- 
ple, as usual, accompanied us. Among those who had 
packed up with the intention of going was a typical 
old colored "mammy." With her bundles she boarded 
a raft on the other side of Deer Creek, here quite wide 
and swift and running the opposite direction from that 
we were marching. Her only propeller was a pole 
with which she pushed ofif from shore. She hadn't wit 
enough to put the pole in the stream and push, but in- 
stead jabbed it down on the end of the raft, pushing 
with all her might; meantime drifting as fast as the 
current could carry her in the opposite direction from 
ours, the boys yelling in great glee at her frantic ef- 
forts and her antics as she was wafted out of our 
sight. 

The night of April 26 a number of barges of hay and 
provisions, guided by a couple of tugboats, ran the 
blockade to supply the lower fleet. Half a dozen gun- 
boats and several transports had got through on the 
i6th and about half a dozen more transports on the 
22nd, in preparation for the final movement about to 
be m.ade by way of Grand Gulf, some thirty or forty 
miles down river, to the rear of Vicksburg. 

TO THE REAR OF VICKSBURG. 

Failing in all his attempts from the front, General 
Grant now inauguraed the brilliant and daring under- 
taking of crossing the river below and, cutting loose 
from his base, putting his army in the rear of the 
enemy in their own country. The hazard of this can 

[51] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

be better understood when it is considered the forces 
of the Confederates were numerically greater than his 
own and on their own ground. Success was possible 
only by bewildering them, which Grant and his gen- 
erals accomplished, backed by the bravery and dash 
of their veteran troops. 

Coming now to our part in this movement which re- 
sulted in shutting up the rebel army in Vicksburg and 
the eventual surrender of that stronghold which had 
so long defied us, we started southward from Milli- 
ken's Bend on May 2, through rain and mud and over 
horrible roads, for Grand Gulf. Aside from the ex- 
treme fatigue and hardship of this tramp I retain no 
distinct recollection except a novel scene in passing 
around a bayou shortly before reaching Grand Gulf. 
This bayou was fairly teeming with alligators. Our 
road skirted the bayou and these ugly creatures were 
crawling everywhere, many of them on the roadway, 
and were run over by the artillery and baggage wagons. 
They were all sizes from a foot or so long to quite 
formidable dimensions, but did not appear to be at all 
dangerous or vicious, and created no disturbance. 
Crossing the river near Grand Gulf we marched rap- 
idly toward Jackson. With the exception of a sharp 
skirmish at Fourteen-mile Creek our column met no 
serious opposition till reaching Raymond, where our 
advance had a severe engagement. This was over and 
the enemy in retreat before we got up, but the severity 
of the battle was evidenced as we passed along by the 
smashed caissons and bloated bodies of artillery horses 

[52] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

strewn about. Arrived before Jackson, the capital of 
Mississippi, May 14. We struck it from the south- 
west, where the defense was comparatively feeble, but 
hard fighting was going on at our left in the neighbor- 
hood of the Jackson and Vicksburg road. The enemy 
soon left our front and our division immediately en- 
tered the city. Next day we (Steele's division) under 
Sherman's direction, devoted to the work of destruc- 
tion. The government buildings, arsenal, factories, 
warehouses, etc., all public property — were burnt, and 
the railroads for some distance out destroyed. Pearl 
river bridge having been burnt by the enemy, its abut- 
ments were battered down by our artillery. This ruth- 
less destruction was necessary for the protection of our 
rear, as we turned to the hard task yet before us toward 
Vicksburg. 

It was sad indeed to see great quantities of valuable 
supplies given over to the flames. They would have 
been a boon to our army, but there was no way to take 
them along. We were in the lightest marching order 
and they could not be left for the use of our enemy. 
What grieved me most I think was to see the sugar 
vvarehouses with their tiers upon tiers of sugar hogs- 
heads, going up in fire and smoke. I loved sugar — it 
had always been a luxury with me, how great was evi- 
denced by my carrying eight or nine canteens of it, 
hung to my shoulders, as we marched out of the city. 
But my endurance proved not equal to my zeal for 
sugar. One by one the canteens had to go as the 
straps cut into my shoulder. An immense amount of 

[53] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

plug tobacco was brought out by the soldiers, their 
hankering for the weed evidently on the same scale as 
mine for sugar. I think enough was left strewed over 
the ground at our first camp to thatch a good-sized 
village. 

While we were thus occupied in Jackson — laying it 
waste, our advance moving toward Vicksburg had en- 
countered Pemberton's army at Champion Hill and a 
fierce battle was going on. We were hurried up to the 
scene but it was decided before we reached there and 
the enemy in retreat toward Vicksburg. The severity 
of this engagement was suggested by the long double 
row of burial trenches skirting the road as we marched 
by next day. Driven from Black river, where Pem- 
berton's army made their final stand outside the Vicks- 
burg fortifications, they were sent pell-mell into the 
city and promptly shut in, not to get out again except 
as prisoners of war. 

THE SIEGE. 

Our division followed the fleeing enemy to within 
three miles of the city, then took ofif to the right by 
by-roads and cross-cuts till we reached the banks of 
the Mississippi. Losing no time Vv^e took and held the 
position on Walnut Hills, directly north of Vicksburg 
and overlooking the river, which we occupied all 
through the following siege. 

From here, in plain view across the river, was 
Young's Point, our late camping-ground, and we 

[54] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

could but congratulate ourselves on the successful issue 
of the hazardous stroke that had brought us by such an 
unlooked-for route from there to our present vantage 
ground. The dash for this position was not without a 
good deal of danger and excitement, secured after a 
series of rushes, Landgraver's(old"LeatherBreeches") 
battery keeping up and advancing with us. At one 
place we passed the redoubtable Dutchman firing up a 
ravine, clapping his hands and shouting "Bully ! boys," 
after a successful shot. A little later on as we ad- 
vanced up the slope and the enemy was hustling 
across the ravine between their works and our line, 
his battery vv^as seen rushing along the brow of the hill 
in our front off toward the right, drivers lashing their 
horses to a mad gallop, artillerymen holding on to the 
caissons like monkeys, cannons and caissons bouncing 
over logs and ruts as if they must upset. Then, with 
a final spurt, we reached the top of the ridge. It was 
getting dark and we set to work at once throwing up 
intrenchments so that by morning we were fairly pro- 
tected. Between our regimental position and the 
enemy's line opposite was a wide, deep, almost im- 
passable ravine, the outlet of a small creek emptying 
into the Mississippi. To our right, between us and 
the river, was one of the principal roadways out of 
Vicksburg leading northward tov/ard the Yazoo. We 
gained our position on the i8th of May, and the in- 
vestment of the city being complete a general assault 
was ordered on the 22nd. We fully expected to take 
part in this, but anticipating that in case of a success- 

[55] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

ful assult the enemy might attempt to break out on this 
road, our regiment was assigned the task of holding it. 
Thus we happened to be spectators of the assault within 
range of view around the line to our left, and a stir- 
ring picture it was. We could plainly see the advance, 
the charge, the slaughter, and repulse. Where the 
opposite hills sloped to the front we could distinctly 
observe the ranks of the enemy behind their works 
dealing out death to our brave men, but too far away 
for us to reach them. At night the attacking line was 
withdrawn and we could learn how the ranks of our 
comrades had been cut up. The enemy had an impreg- 
nable position, had evidently recovered from their 
panic, and we had no recourse but to settle down to 
regular siege work. Intrenchments were strengthened 
and approaches advanced wherever the nature of the 
ground admitted. This was more the case to our left 
around the line, where the ground was more irregular 
and tunneling and mining were possible. Owing to 
the deep ravine in our front nothing of this kind could 
be done, so that our efforts were mainly devoted to 
sharpshooting. Our company was divided into five 
reliefs, each manning the works two hours at a time 
daily for that purpose. The slightest exposure in the 
pits opposite called for a half dozen shots, and the 
enemy was no less vigilant watching and trying to 
''wing" us. 

As our works grew more massive artillery was 
brought to the front, until there was along our regi- 
mental line one sixty-four-pound Dalgreen, one forty- 

[56] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

two-pound Dalgreen, two thirty-two-pound Parrotts, 
one twenty-pound Parrott, one ten-pound Parrott, and 
three twelve-pound brass field pieces ; the ten-pound 
Parrott being- at an angle in our company front and 
operated by members of the company. Along the 
brow of the ridge facing the enemy was our main rifle 
pit, a strong earth embankment, just high enough for 
a man to stand and fire over (it had not yet occurred 
to us to use logs on top to protect our heads when 
firing, as became the custom later on). Back of this 
en;ibankment for a short distance was level ground to 
a terrace some three feet high. In the edge of this 
terrace a number of us contrived lodging places — very 
much like graves with one end out. Over these, tent 
shape, were stretched our rubber blankets for shelter. 
They were insufferably hot in daytime but good and 
comfortable nights, which were cool. One of these 
was my "house" all during the siege. Drinking water - 
of a passable quality trickled out of the hill a little way 
to our rear. 

The enemy tried hard to reach us with shells, but 
never succeeded in dropping them down on us. They 
seemed to have no mortars and their shells invariably 
went too far overhead, exploding beyond our position. 
But if these heavier missiles missed us, we were not 
so exempt from the smaller messengers of death. 
May 25 a lieutenant of Company E came up to watch 
the operation of our Parrott gun. It had just been 
fired and as he peeped through the embrasure to see 
the effect of the shot, a rebel sharpshooter put a bullet 

[57] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

through his head, kiUing him instantly. A Httle later 
on one of our boys standing near me in apparently the 
safest place behind our works was hit by a minnie ball 
which entered below his left eye and passed out of his 
neck on the opposite side. He dropped in a heap, 
blood gushing from his nose, mouth and the wound, 
but by some miraculous chance it missed a vital cord 
and he recovered. 

May 27 the gunboat Cincinnati incautiously round- 
ing the bend of the river was sunk in our plain view. 
A shot from a rebel water battery reached some vital 
part, disabling her machinery so that she became un- 
manageable. Thereupon the batteries went for her 
viciously, but the crew, while running up their signals 
of distress, contrived to work the vessel across to our 
shore, where she sank about a mile up river from us. 
A few nights after I was one of a detail to guard this 
boat. The river had fallen and it lay along the sloping 
shore partly out of water, so that we contrived to fish 
a number of articles out of the hold — revolvers and 
such things. I wanted very much to send some of 
these home for relics, but got no chance and they were 
too cumbersome to carry. The cannon from this gun- 
boat were taken off and put in position at the front. 
It fell to my lot to be one of a detail to get off the last 
three — one eleven-inch and two seven-inch. This was 
a hazardous job, as the enemy had one of their most 
effective rifled cannon (the ''Whistling Dick," we 
termed it) trained to cover the wreck and quite accur- 
ate range of it, shelling at intervals during the night. 

[58] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

A lookout was stationed at the stern of the wreck, 
while others were busy at work. At each flash of this 
gun, whose location we knew, the alarm was given and 
then there was prompt and energetic skeedaddling to 
get in hiding, either on the safe side of the ironclad or 
in rifle pits up on the shore, till the shrieking shell had 
burst or passed over in the woods beyond. I can yet 
recall my dubious, questioning sensations as I lay 
snuggled down closely as possible against the safe side 
of the ironclad, listening for the approaching shell and 
wondering where it would hit. We worked till 3 p. m., 
when the guns v/ere safely on land. With the last one 
off we waited in the pits for another shot, then quickly 
gathering up our rifles and other traps lit out of the 
locality as fast as we could, leaving to future details 
the task of getting them over to the siege line. 

The night of June 7 six deserters from the opposite 
line came through our camping lines. They reported 
the besieged army living on very restricted rations of 
poor beef, and bread made of peas. We fed three of 
them at our quarters and they ate voraciously. Our 
knapsacks had been left at Milliken's Bend when we 
started for the rear of Vicksburg and they did not 
reach us till well tov/ard the middle of June. Our 
bodily condition can be imagined after a month and a 
half cam.paigning through rain and mud, heat and 
dust, without a change of underclothing and no chance 
to bathe. The "greybacks" fairly swaraied and were 
no disgrace to us under the circumstances, as it was 
simply impossible to get rid of them. Despite all these 

[59] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

hardships, however, the health of the company was 
excellent, the weak members having been left behind 
or winnowed out. No man without a tough constitu- 
tion could stand such experiences. In spite of contin- 
uous danger and trying conditions we contrived to 
get some fun out of the situation. There was a good 
deal of chaffing back and forth between us and the 
enemy at night. When darkness settled down there 
was a mutual truce in firing and we felt free to sit 
a-top our works to have a talk with the "J*^^^^^^^" 
across the way. Ordinarily this chaffing was good- 
natured and harmless. We had a quick-witted, ready- 
tongued character in our company who was the recog- 
nized spokesman for our side, and they had one of the 
same kind whom we dubbed the 'Tarson." It got to 
be a regular entertainment and General Sherman came 
to our quarters one evening to listen to the dialogue 
and have a good laugh over it. But on one occasion 
our man let his wit run away with his discretion by 
indulging in some insulting remarks neither fitting nor 
nice. In the darkness we were lolling on top the works 
taking things easy and listening to the conversation 
when this insult was passed over to our friends across 
the way. Suddenly, over there, there was a flash and 
before we realized a volley of grape and cannister 
Vv^histled uncomfortably close overhead. The danger 
was past before we could move, but all the same there 
was some ungraceful tumbling to get on the safe side 
of our works. Luckily no one was hit and our speaker 
learned to be more discreet. 

[60] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

The shelling- of the city from the mortar fleet hidden 
behind Young's Point was a magnificent spectacle at 
night. The fuse of the bombs could be clearly seen as 
they made their graceful curve through the sky — 
sometimes three or four in the air at once like flying 
stars ; the detonation as they exploded in and over the 
city shaking the very hills. An incident perhaps wor- 
thy of mention was a short truce we enjoyed on June 
30 on account of some people claiming to be British 
subjects, over in Vicksburg, who wanted to get out. 
Pending negotiations, a truce was agreed on and in 
that interval our troops and the ''Johnnies" met down 
in the ravine between the lines to enjoy a little friendly 
chat and exchange cofifee and tobacco. As soon as the 
signal ending the truce was given all skurried back to 
their works and started in again trying to kill each 
other. During this truce I went down to the river 
bank in view of the enemy's water batteries and en- 
joyed sight of the green grass and trees over there. 
Our hills were barren and bare, the sun beating down 
with intense heat on our unshaded quarters. About 
the last of June the paymaster came around and we 
received two months' dues. I had assisted my com- 
pany officers at times with their writing, making out 
pay rolls, etc., and occasionally officers of other com- 
panies solicited my aid and paid generously for it. It 
was work I liked, good practice, and helped eke out 
my limited finances. 

During the siege I fired at least one thousand 
rounds. As before stated, sharpshooting was kept up 

[61] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

constantly and systematically. I spotted a certain 
point across the way where a road ran dovv^n the slope 
toward us intersecting the rifle pits of the enemy. 
Here, in passing back and forth in their works, ex- 
posure was more common and quite risky. I made it 
my business to cover this, though it was a full thous- 
and yards distant. My rifle was sighted for one thous- 
and yards and practice enabled me to get accurate 
range of the spot so I could see the dust fly j ust where 
I wanted to hit. At this place I hit the only man I was 
sure of during the v/ar. I could tell by the throwing 
up of his hands and a stretcher being immediately 
rushed to the spot. 

Through a little piece of carelessness just before the 
siege ended I spoiled the rifle that had done me such 
good service. I had been in the practice at night of 
plugging up the muzzle with a "tompion," or wooden 
stopper, to keep out dampness. Getting out one morn- 
mg early into the pits I blazed away and noticed a 
peculiar humming sound accompanying the report. 
Going about to reload I discovered the end of the bar- 
rel near the muzzle bulged out so that I could not put 
my bayonet on it. I had forgotten the tompion and 
could thank my stars the gun hadn't burst. This gun, 
by the way, while we were on the march a few days 
later toward Jackson I contrived to ''swap" for a good 
one. A lot of us were filling our canteens at a spring, 
standing our guns together against an embankment 
while doing so. As I left, having filled my canteen, I 
selected a good Springfield out of the lot and got safely 

[62] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

away with it. Doubtless the fellow that got mine 
passed it along likewise till it got into the "boneyard" 
of disabled rifles. 

Vicksburg surrendered July 4, 1863. Our exulta- 
tion was unbounded at the glorious termination of our 
hard, long and disastrous campaigning. We hoped 
now to enjoy a season of rest and recuperation after 
our arduous labors, but the requirements of the situa- 
tion would not admit of any such good fortune just yet. 
Over across that ravine were some thirty thousand 
prisoners and big spoils of war we had helped to round 
up, but of which we were never to catch a glimpse. 
Sherman, vv^ith the three other divisions of our corps, 
was at Black river in our rear, keeping Joe Johnson 
off while the siege lasted. As soon as it ended we were 
ordered to join him for aggressive work against John- 
son's army. We pulled out of the works we had occu- 
pied the last forty-eight days on the morning of July 5 
in light marching order and started again tow^ard Jack- 
son, to which place Johnson retreated with his army, 
said to be thirty thousand strong. We reached Jackson 
over the most God-forsaken, worst-watered country I 
ever saw, about the 9th. Such had been the hurry ot 
our start that no intrenching tools had been brought 
along. Johnson had taken a strong stand to hold the 
city and we were up against another stiff proposition. 
Up the long slope ahead of us was our artillery en- 
gaged Vv^ith the enemy's in their intrenchments, and 
we got the benefit of the return fire they provoked, 
without any protection ; consequently, had to take 

[63] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

some of the worst shelling we were ever under. We 
just had to maintain our position behind the guns and 
take chances. However, a kindly providence seemed 
to be over us, though there were many close escapes. 
One twenty-pounder Parrott shell scattered a rail shel- 
ter, under which a quartette of our boys were playing 
cards, without injuring any of them. Another tore a 
furrow alongside a hay-rick under which one was 
lying. They tore the limbs off the oak tree under 
which I made my bed of fence-rails, and we got accus- 
tomed to watching the higher ones as they flew over- 
head into the camp beyond. Other troops close by 
were not so fortunate, losing a number killed and 
wounded. One ix)or fellow in a company just to our 
left was struck while lying down and torn to pieces. 
I must acknowledge my hair was kept on end contin- 
uallv under such exposure and it was a blessed relief 
when the regiment was sent on a couple days' forag- 
ing expedition some dozen miles out into the country. 
This section was fertile and the ruthless hands of for- 
agers had not yet despoiled it. We reveled in melon 
patches and peach orchards and, after loading our 
brigade teams with forage, returned to our dangerous 
position. Our worst hardship here was lack of good 
water. Frequently all we could get was out of rank- 
looking, scum-covered puddles, and much sickness re- 
sulted. 

On the 1 6th we were detached on a raid of destruc- 
tion to Canton, Mississippi, twenty-five miles north of 
Jackson. Stopped at Calhoun on the way to tear up a 

[64] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

couple miles of railway track. Between there and 
Canton had a sharp skirmish with Confederate cavalry 
in which a couple of men of our company were 
wounded. At Canton destroyed all Confederate 
government property, burnt machine shops, cars 
and lumber, and tore up the railroad tracks. Among 
our captures here was a good-sized stack of Con- 
federate currency notes — in sheets, yet unsigned — 
which the boys put into general circulation. Names 
at random were signed by them as officers of the 
issue and the average southerner who took them in 
payment for supplies didn't know the difference. 
They turned out to be as good as the legally issued 
by the time the war closed. Meantime they were 
the v^ildest kind of ''wildcat" bills. On our re- 
turn from this expedition we found Johnson had evac- 
uated Jackson and our troops in possession. 

CAMP SHERMAN. 

With Johnson and his army driven inland — able to 
keep out of our reach, and all fear of aggressive action 
against us on their part removed for the present — fur- 
ther pursuit was abandoned and we were sent back to 
Black river to go into camp for rest and recuperation 
until the authorities arranged plans for further cam- 
paigning, and decided where they wanted to use us. 
Beside, it w^as absolutely necessary that we secure some 
quartermaster supplies. We could not have been in 
much worse straits for clothing. The soldiers needed 
rest and healthful nourishment. The heat, destitution, 

[65] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

and ill fare had become very debilitating. Such con- 
ditions in mid-summer in this climate were extremely 
dangerous. Personally, I was down to hardpan in the 
way of clothing. Our knapsacks were still back at 
Vicksburg. The shirt I had on was gone all but the 
front and one sleeve. Before we reached Black river 
I was shirtless, my pants were in an indescribable con- 
dition, my blouse all rags, and my only fairly respecta- 
ble covering a forage cap. Had put in a requisition 
before leaving Vicksburg for two shirts and a blouse, 
but there was good prospect for going naked before 
they could be got to us and "W" was reached in issu- 
ing them. Usually supplies were issued to the com- 
pany in the alphabetical order of its members' names 
and in case of shortage, which was not infrequent, we 
fellows at the tail end of the alphabet were ''minus." 

We marched leisurely back to Black river, making 
the third time we had covered this same road, and es- 
tablished Camp Sherman near that stream on July 31. 
Here our captain, who had been left back at Vicksburg 
sick, with a number of others, met us, having arrived 
the day before with our knapsacks and company goods. 
Five of our sick who had been left back with him died 
in the interval, and we lost by sickness three who had 
started from Vicksburg with us. The arrival of our 
knapsacks was timely. My pants had lost all covering 
qualities and I had thrown them away, compelled for 
a day or two to serve my country garbed in underwear 
only. With my knapsack at hand my first move was 
down to the creek near-by, where I took a thorough 

[66] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

scrubbing. Washed my boots inside and out; then, 
after putting on clean shirt, drawers and socks, felt 
like a new being and in more comfortable condition to 
wait for the other clothing and equipment needed to 
complete my outfit we had been assured would be along 
soon. Here we enjoyed a refreshing two months' rest, 
recuperating and being fitted out with renewed equip- 
ment. Our camp ground was ridgy, and wooded, with 
deep ravines about us, and plenty of excellent spring 
water, a novelty and blessing not often vouchsafed us 
in my previous army experience. 

Nothing occurred of a specially interesting or excit- 
ing character to disturb the peace and quiet of camp 
life at this place. A number of men were allowed 
thirty days furlough home, being furnished free trans- 
portation to Cairo and from there to destination pay- 
ing their own fare at two-thirds rates. On August 3 
clothing, canteens and haversacks were issued, but un- 
der the alphabetical proceeding before mentioned, the 
supply of the latter was exhausted before my name 
was reached. August 4 our nine months drafted men 
were mustered out of service, having been compelled 
by force of circumstances to serve a month over time. 
In that month several had been taken down sick and 
one died. These nine months mxn had certainly seen 
the hardest kind of service from the beginning to the 
end of their connection with our regiment in the oper- 
ations around Vicksburg, and sufifered ill effects out 
of all proportion with the other members. This may 
be attributed to the sudden and radical change from 

[67] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the conditions of home hfe to the conditions of service 
in the long drawn out Vicksburg campaign — un- 
heahhy, arduos, and dispiriting. Homesickness dis- 
heartened many of them. When disease attacked them 
they appeared to give up without a struggle. Of the 
thirty assigned to our company, only nine or ten were 
fit for duty at the expiration of their term of service. 
The others were dead or sick at various hospitals. 

In early August our captain went north on sick 
leave. The lieutenant left in command utilized me for 
company clerk and I tented with him. This excused 
me from ordinary details and saved me from a good 
deal of fatigue duty and exposure, as well as from the 
daily hour drill that had been instituted. I was obliged, 
however, to appear in my place at all regimental calls. 
The lieutenant had a darky waiter and cook who looked 
also somewhat after my comfort and I occupied some 
of my leisure in teaching the ''contraband" to spell. 
He was a slow but grateful pupil. I remember, with 
some qualms of the stomach yet, his making pies for 
our dessert. I saw him working up the dough, out in 
the sizzling hot sun back of our tent, the sweat pouring 
down from his shining face and bare arms — and I let 
the lieutenant eat all the pies. I became very much 
attached to this lieutenant and our mutual regard has 
not slackened in the years since then. He was a man 
well advaced in middle life, of thoroughly clean char- 
acter and habits, kindly disposition and something of 
a poet. He had been through the Mexican war and so 
was a trained and experienced campaigner. He was a 

[68] 



i 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

regular correspondent in both wars for northern news- 
papers. In rehgious behef a UniversaUst, and an ar- 
dent champion for his faith. We had an equally ardent 
Methodist in his company, a consistent, intelligent fel- 
low, and I used to listen with a good deal of interest to 
their arguments. While their discussions were some- 
times heated, they always ended good-naturedly and 
no harm resulted, with the result that they never 
changed each other's belief an iota. 

A peculiarity of the climate in this section was ex- 
cessively hot days, while the nights were so cool that 
it was difficult to sleep comfortably with such covering 
as we had. Another characteristic of the country : it 
was a paradise for toads, lizards, bugs, mosquitoes, 
and such other creatures as tend to make day miser- 
able and night hideous. Squirrels abounded, but 
shooting was prohibited. 

August 28 the regiment went out into the neighbor- 
ing country on an expedition after cotton and got over 
four hundred bales, a quite valuable acquisition for our 
government at that time. August 30 we were inspected 
and mustered for pay, receiving two months' dues. 
About September i our division was reorganized. 
Heretofore our regiment was in the Second Brigade. 
It was now assigned to the First Brigade, one of nine 
regiments composing the latter, a place we maintained 
during the remainder of the war. Our designation 
now was First Brigade (commanded by Charles R. 
Woods), First Division (commanded by P. J. Oster- 



[69] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

haus), Fifteenth Army Corps (commanded by W. T. 
Sherman). 

A fellow came around while we were here to take 
subscriptions for a Company "Memorial," or roster 
combined with a history of its war service up to the 
present time, size about twelve by twenty-four inches, 
suitable for framing, price two dollars, for which I 
was called upon to do the clerical work. My lieutenant 
started north on furlough September 8. I presume the 
captain had returned, but do not remember. 

TO THE RELIEF OF CHATTANOOGA. 

About September 20 orders were received for anoth- 
er move and Vv^e took our departure from Camp Sher- 
man to take part in another strenuous and notable 
campaign. Defeat and disaster had befallen the Union 
army at the center. Rosencrans was penned up in 
Chattanooga (having been driven from the battlefield 
of Chickamauga), practicaly in a state of siege. Sher- 
man with his corps had been ordered to Chattanooga 
to his assistance. September 23 we embarked at Vicks- 
burg for Memphis and the only glimpse we ever got of 
Vicksburg from the inside was from the middle of the 
road as we marched through it from our Black river 
camp down to the boat landing at the Mississippi, 
when we bade a final farewell to the locality made 
memorable to us by nine months of such varied and 
trying experiences. 

At Memphis we left four of our company who, on 

[70] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

account of disability, were transferred to the Veteran 
Reserve Corps — among these my fellow recruit with 
whom I had enlisted and left home. The pace was too 
much for his years and endurance and we were thus 
separated for the rest of the war. His aggressive use- 
fulness had come to an end, while I was destined yet 
to a lot of terribly hard grinding between the upper 
and nether millstones of Uncle Sam's extremity before 
getting through with my soldiering. From here began 
our long, tiresome march to Chattanooga, some three 
hundred miles distant. At Corinth, about October i, 
we left five of our company sick in the general hospital. 
Two of these who had been reckoned our healthiest, 
most seasoned veterans died within a week, which to 
my mind is suggestive of the depressing atmosphere of 
a hospital life. I too had been ailing and not fit for 
duty since leaving Vicksburg, suflfering with dyspepsia 
and a racking cough. But having a horror of hospitals 
I continued to straggle along with the company, going 
to the regimental doctor at sick call daily for some time 
and being excused from duty. Our lieutenant return- 
ing from his furlough rejoined the command October 
13, having been detained by sickness nine days over 
his allotted time. By the time we reached luka, Mis- 
sissippi, I had gained strength enough to again take up 
light duties. Moving camp to six miles from that town 
we were paid off on October 17 and I sent home what 
little surplus I had by our sutler, who was going north. 
At Cherokee Station, Alabama, two members of our 
company who had been furloughed home rejoined us, 

[71] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

bringing to me from my folks a pair of boots and a 
number of other useful articles and home letters. The 
boots, by the way, were unfortunately about two inches 
too long for me and I had to sell them. The particulars 
of this march for the next month up to the beginning 
of the fight at Lookout Mountain I am unable to recall. 
I made no memoranda of them and the letters in which 
it was my practice to detail the route of our travels, 
towns passed through and the various incidents con- 
sidered worthy of note, from October 27 to December 
31, 1863, have been lost. They were mislaid by my 
people at home and I never got to see them after my 
return. This period in my mind is more like a dream 
that is past and gone — very vague. The way was long 
and dreary and very wearisome, so much so that its 
scenes and incidents of the march made no impression 
on my mind. I was too worn and tired for anything 
but to plod along in the ranks and do just what the 
duties required of me. In a general way we followed 
the line of railway running from Memphis to Chatta- 
nooga ; crossed the Tennessee river at Eastport, Mis- 
sissippi, and passed through Florence, Huntsville, 
Larkensville, Bellefonte, and Stevenson among other 
places en route. As we neared Chattanooga the con- 
ditions were indescribably horrible. Troops and teams 
were being rushed to that center with the resultant 
congestion of the roads. Rains were constant, the 
muddy roads almost impassable, cut up and seemingly 
bottomless. Teams and artillery would stick and had 
to be pried out. This impeded and delayed advance of 

[72] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the troops and we had to stop and wait, throwing our- 
selves down along the roadside, knapsack on back, to 
get a moment of sleep, as we were on the go day and 
night almost continuously. In fact, it seemed to me 
sometimes that we slept as we marched. Then, too, 
as we neared Chattanooga, where Grant's army was in 
a partial state of siege with his line of supplies largely 
controlled by the enemy, our accumulating reinforce- 
ments had to sufifer with them the scarcity of food. 
Our supplies had been absorbed, and for the last three 
days our haversacks practically empty, so that I recall 
how gratefully and eagerly I "snailed on" to a coarse 
brown biscuit I found in a haversack one of the "John- 
nies" had thrown away as we followed them over 
Lookout Mountain in that fight. 

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, MISSIONARY RIDGE 
AND RINGOLD. 

Although, as before mentioned, events up to the bat- 
tle of Lookout Mountain are disconnected and indis- 
tinct in my memory, what happened the next three or 
four days from then I can today vividly recall without 
the aid of written record. They are as clear in my 
mind as events of yesterday. I mean my movements 
in the Lookout ^Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Rin- 
gold battles, in which spectacular series of assaults 
Bragg was hurled from his strong and threatening po- 
sition ou those heights and put to flight by the splendid 
generalship of Grant and his subordinate commanders, 

[73] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO iiN IHE CIVIL WAR 

backed up by the courage and daring of their troops. 
Our corps reached the west bank of the Tennessee 
river in Lookout Valley just as the situation had be- 
come strained to its highest tension. Grant's chess- 
board had been all arranged and he was only waiting, 
anxiously, to put Sherman's veterans at the point he 
had planned for them. Sherman and his men did all 
that troops, inured to hardship as they were, could do 
to be on time, but bad roads delayed. Finally, reaching 
the river at high water, great difficulty was experienced 
getting the troops across to take the position assigned 
to them at the extreme left of our line, at Tunnell Hill, 
the northeast extremity of Missionary Ridge. The 
pontoons kept breaking. Three divisions of our corps 
got over safely, leaving our (Osterhaus's) yet on the 
west bank at the foot of Lookout. Grant could wait no 
longer. Immediate action was imperative. Therefore 
our place with Sherman was temporarily taken by a 
division from another corps and we were left to co- 
operate with Hooker's troops. These eastern troops 
were brave men, having seen hard and bloody service 
in the Army of the Potomac. But Grant had soldiered 
with the westerners and knew by personal experience 
to what extent he could rely on them. It is a matter 
of history that when he heard Osterhaus's division had 
been left with Hooker's men, he decided on and ordered 
the assault of Lookout Mountain, which, it appears, up 
to this point he had not contemplated. This explains 
how our division was the only body of western troops 
engaged in the battle of Lookout Mountain. 

[74] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Certainly when, on the morning of November 24, 
our regiment swung into Hne and marched down Look- 
out Valley toward the Tennessee crossing, we had not 
the remotest thought of being called upon to scale the 
mountain just to our right, occupied by the enemy. Of 
course we knew nothing about the tremendous game 
about to be played, in fact already begun. Between us 
and the other actors were the mountain and river. All 
we could comprehend was what was in our immediate 
front. We had no idea what link we were in a battle 
line which we later discovered was miles in length from 
the position we occupied on the extreme right to that 
held by our fellow corpsmen on the extreme left. Be- 
tween them a host of men from all our armies. Neither 
did we know that our comrades of the Fifteenth Corps, 
away off at the other end of our line, were already en- 
gaged in the deadly assault on the enemy's flank at 
Tunnell Hill. Suddenly firing began on our right 
among the foothills along Lookout creek at the base 
of the m.ountain. We were right-faced and almost be- 
fore we comprehended in the fray, on our way up and 
around the slope of the ascent. Immediately on cross- 
ing the creek our company was deployed as skirmishers 
and kept that formation to the close of the engagement, 
the more stubborn fighting up the mountain to our 
right as the line of assault swung around the mountain 
slope below the pallisdes like a huge pendulum — 
Geary's men at the top just touching the pallisades — we 
at the bottom moving at a more rapid pace. We picked 
our way steadily through the forest, amid large bould- 

[75] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

ers, the enemy giving way as rapidly as we advanced 
so that I did not have occasion to fire more than three 
or four shots. While hazardous and exciting and ro- 
mantic, I have always looked back upon this ''battle 
above the clouds," as it has been termed, as a veritable 
"picnic" compared with a good many of our less re- 
nowned engagements. Doubtless its picturesque set- 
ting has contributed mainly to making it so notable. 
A drizzling rain was falling, clouds settled around the 
base of the mountain and it was misty, but I can't re- 
call that our end of the column got above the clouds. 
Possibly the top of the mountain may have been. 

As evening came on at the close of the engagement 
I had my first and only view of General Hooker. He 
rode to the front, where we were standing at rest 
awaiting further developments — just above the road 
winding over the lower slope of the mountain. He 
appeared to be examining the situation, and after a few 
words with our commander went back the way he 
came. That night we held the position we had taken 
and the troops above, who had run short of ammuni- 
tion, were reinforced by a. brigade of fresh men from 
Chattanooga, who came with a supply of ammunition 
strapped to their backs to replenish the cartridge-boxes 
of our companions up the hill. 

Morning found the mountain evacuated by the ene- 
my, who had hastily abandoned it to avoid being cut off 
from their main army on Missionary Ridge, and 
Geary's men took possession. The full force of the 
enemy was now on Missionary Ridge, their line ex- 

[76] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

tending from Rossville Gap to Tunnel Hill. By a 
strange freak of fortune, the Fifteenth Corps had a 
hand in the operations at both these wide apart flanks. 
As day dawned we descended the mountain and started 
across the valley toward Rossville Gap. The bridge 
across Chattanooga creek had been destroyed by the 
enemy in their retreat, and we were delayed two or 
three hours getting over. Close by happened to be 
some bee-hives which gave some of the boys a little in- 
teresting pastime robbing them in order to get a lick 
of honey. Once across the creek we hastened to Ross- 
ville Gap, passed through it and, flanking the left of the 
enemy's line, marched some distance along the rear of 
Missionary Ridge and charged up. Brigadier General 
Charles R. Woods (our old colonel) followed on foot 
in the rear of our regiment, and Major General Oster- 
haus in the rear of a Missouri regiment at our left. 
The latter evidently comprehended the fix our foes 
were in, for he shouted gleefully as we started up, 
''We've got 'em in a pen," and we certainly soon proved 
this to be the case. It was certainly a picturesque 
and exciting rounding up — a fit scene for a painting. 
Just as we reached the summit amid the noise and 
tumult of battle and were wheeling to sweep up it, 
a brigade of the enemy was coming in wild confusion 
down, cut off further up the ridge by our troops 
charging from the front. Hedged about on all sides, 
they became a whirling, struggling mass of panic- 
stricken men, signalling frantically to make us under- 
stand they surrendered. Then firing ceased and we 

[77] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

began to comprehend that victory was ours and the 
enemy retreating. Off in the distance to the rear of 
their right we could see their trains being withdrawn 
southward. That evening to our regiment and an- 
other was assigned the task of guarding our prisoners 
up to Chattanooga. We marched them up and after 
delivering them to the proper authorities, started back 
next morning to join in pursuit of the retreating rebel 
army. Moving southward out of Chattanooga we 
ascended Missionary Ridge and marched down its 
summit to Rossville Gap. The wreck of the previous 
day's battle was still strewn about. Bodies of many 
of our dead foenien were yet lying or reclining behind 
their intrenchments where death had found them, and 
while some of our boys had light, sarcastic comments 
to make about these, I could not but feel sad for the 
homes desolated by the loss of these brave men who 
died for a cause they thought just. Marching down 
the ridge we met Generals Grant and Thomas riding 
side by side, evidently consulting about the situation. 
From Rossville Gap we moved southward toward 
Ringold, and next day caught up with the enemy's 
rear guard under General Pat Clabourne, at that place 
strongly posted on the railway gap at Taylor's Ridge, 
just beyond Ringold. Here he was promptly but 
rashly assaulted by our troops with the result that we 
suffered a very severe and unnecessary loss. Our 
regiment was double-quicked through Ringold to the 
scene, at such a pace that exhausted as I was from our 
long march I was unable to keep up. In the confusion 

[78] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

they were sent off to the left, while I, keeping straight 
on, got mixed up with the eastern troops in the thick 
of the fight directly in front. I can realize since then 
how it happens so many men in battle may go down 
and get into the classes of the ''unknown" and ''miss- 
ing." Men were being hit all around me and had I 
been instantly killed among these strange troops, it is 
doubtful if my identity would have been ascertained, 
or my comrades ever found out what became of me. 
From my position I could look back over the bottom 
land approaching the Gap and see our columns ad- 
vancing in line of battle. It seemed like senseless ex- 
posure of brave men. They were in unobstructed and 
easy range of the batteries posted on the ridge in the 
Gap, and were mowed down in swathes by the grape 
and cannister that swept the field. It Vv^as simply mur- 
derous, and horrifying to look at, but the brave sur- 
vivors closed up their ranks and kept forward. Fear 
of being flanked soon drove the enemy from the ridge. 
I quickly found my regiment to learn that they had 
lost heavily and that our regimental standard had been 
captured, snatched from the grasp of a color-bearer as 
he went down. Years afterward I met a southerner 
who said he had been in that battle among our oppo- 
nents and that this captured banner was torn in small 
bits and distributed among its captors as mementos. 
Coming down the mountain I found a number of our 
dead and wounded lying on the floor of a small log 
house on the mountain side. Among these, one case 
that was most pitiable — a fine-looking boy sixteen to 

[79] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

eighteen years old, shot through the head, the ball en- 
tering at his left ear. His dying convulsions were 
fearful to witness and he appeared to be in great 
agony, though unconscious. No surgical care had 
reached him yet ; probably nothing could have been 
done anyhow to relieve him. History says that Sher- 
man acknowledged this attack was indiscreet and un- 
necessary — that the enemy could have been driven off 
without loss to us by flank movement. It is not 
strange that such mistakes are made in the rush and 
excitement of victory and pursuit of a retreating ene- 
my. That had been demonstrated on accasions here- 
tofore — notably on May 22 at Vicksburg and later on 
at Kenesaw Mountain. Considering the vast responsi- 
bility a commanding officer has to shoulder — the quick 
judgment often required in the face of doubtful condi- 
tions and lack of inform.ation, and the small weight of 
balance between victory and defeat, it is not wise to 
criticise harshly always if defeat happens. It may nip 
an able commander's reputation and usefulness in the 
bud, but Grant and Sherman had reached a stage in 
their careers when an error in judgment like these was 
overlooked. Those who felt the brunt of it were the 
poor fellows who went down in the storm of shot and 
shell as the result of such error. 

This Ringold affair terminated the Chattanooga 
campaign and left that important point thereafter in 
undisputed possession of the Union forces. We were 
given another breathing spell. Grant's troops were 
drawn back for the winter and distributed in various 

[80] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

camps, while plans were discussed and matured and 
means accumulated for next spring's campaigns. 
From December 5 to 20 we lay at Bridgeport, Ala- 
bama. Results of the last half of 1863 brought about 
a great change in the spirit and aspect of the war. At 
Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga had been 
wrought decisive victories for the cause of the Union. 
Loyal people of the north were inspirited and encour- 
aged to renewed effort and sacrifice, while the Con- 
federacy was correspondingly weakened if not de- 
pressed. So on the part of the north they took up the 
struggle with renewed heart and grip. Grant was 
made commander-in-chief, under the president, of all 
the L^nion armies, and Sherman given command of the 
Departments of Ohio, Tennessee, the Cumberland, and 
Arkansas, with their armies. Inspired by more hope- 
ful prospects and by means of liberal inducements in 
the way of bounties, the depleted ranks were filled with 
new recruits and affairs put in trim for a final grapple 
to suppress the rebellion. My memoranda where they 
again take up the record of our movements find us at 
Brid2:eport, Alabama, which place we left in the latter 
part of December, 1863. To give some idea of the 
experiences of this march to get into permanent winter 
quarters I will devote space to some of its particulars. 
From there we marched to Stevenson, ten miles dis- 
tant. It seemed as if there was no bottom to the roads. 
Rain fell almost incessantly, and it was next to impos- 
sible to move the wagon trains. We had tO' wait at 
Stevenson a full day for them to come up. Next day 

[81] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

we made but four miles, the route taking us through 
an extensive swamp. Made eight miles next day ; 
then, on Christmas day, fifteen miles to Larkensville. 
By some sort of satanic inspiration I volunteered, on 
this Christmas occasion, as train guard in order to get 
my knapsack hauled. But between sitting still during 
a blockade, double-quicking to keep up when a good 
stretch of road presented, helping to pry wagons out 
of the mud and so forth, it would have been far better 
for m.e to trudge along in the ranks with knapsack on 
back. Had been routed out at four o'clock and started 
at six. Near Larkensville passed through a swamp 
two miles long, corduroyed the whole distance with 
loose logs, and reached that town about dark com- 
pletely knocked up. I recall that my Christmas dinner 
consisted of raw pickled pork and hardtack. From 
here to Woodville, where the close of 1863 found us, 
was ten miles. We bivouaced on the side of a moun- 
tain that night and next day. New Year's, 1864. went 
into permanent camp at Paint Rock. 

PAINT ROCK. 

Paint Rock was a mere station on the railroad and 
on the east bank of Paint Rock creek, a beautiful 
stream of clear water. The only house I remember 
was taken possession of and used for our brigade 
headquarters. This overlooked the spacious valley to 
the south, across the railroad, through which flowed 
the creek, and where our encampment was located. It 

[82] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

was an ideal spot for a camp — level, clean, mountain- 
girt on the east, picturesque and beautiful, with abun- 
dant water of excellent quality, and convenient for 
supplies. Across the railroad from headquarters was 
a large boulder overlooking camp, on which the brig- 
ade bugler stood when sounding his calls. At night, 
especially, the effect was very pleasing as the clear 
notes floated over the encampment down the valley. 
Our regiment camped close to the foot of the mountain 
and put up comfortable quarters. Few who yet live 
have forgotten that bitterly cold New Year's day of 
1864, when the whole country suffered. Far south as 
we were, it struck us severely as we started to put up 
our tent-covered shanties. By this time I had begun 
to be recognized as an attache of company headquar- 
ters, the commander making pretty steady use of me 
as company clerk. This was a common practice among 
officers who disliked or had not the ability for clerical 
work and such felt free to press into service some 
"high private" under their command to do it for them. 
I don't mean to intimate my old, honored lieutenant 
was of this sort. He was a faithful, capable man, well 
qualified for his position, but his war correspondence, 
and poetic muse, were more congenial to him than 
work on muster rolls and such writings pertaining to 
the conduct of his company. The arrangement suited 
me all right. I was glad to do it for the relief it gave 
me from more disagreeable and fatiguing duties. But 
from certain points of view, in other cases that came 
under my observation, it seemed an imposition, and 

[83] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

unjust distribution of pay, for a commissioned officer 
to ask (which was equivalent to an order) one of his 
men to do the work for which the former got the pay 
and credit. Another thing, the last year and more of 
my service was devoted to a class of work for which 
the government was paying civilian clerks $125 per 
month. The civilian clerk at our division headquarters 
had the same duties as myself at brigade headquarters, 
with less of detail, for which he received that pay. 
Uncle Sam saved the difference by ordering me, a 
sixteen-dollars per month enlisted man, to take the 
position at brigade headquarters. However, this is 
somewhat anticipating the order of events which I am 
weaving into this narrative. No such critical views 
bothered me at the time. I welcomed the change. It 
was more congenial than the ordinary detail duties of 
a private soldier and insured comfortable quarters, for 
I tented in company headquarters. But I could never 
depend on being relieved from the routine of drill, es- 
pecially battalion, brigade, and division drill. Above 
all this it gave me experience and a reputation which 
in the course of events helped me into a much more 
satisfactory position — a position which not only mod- 
erated the hardships of my soldier life, but influenced 
and fixed my occupation in civil life when the war was 
over. 

Our brigade quartermaster's clerk had been com- 
missioned as a lieutenant and assigned to a command. 
Imagine my surprise and delight, at dress parade one 
evening, to hear read before the regiment : 

[84] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

''Headquarters First Brigade, First Division, Fif- 
teenth Army Corps, Paint Rock, Alabama, April 23, 
1864. Special order No. 73 : 

'IX. Private Charles A. Willison, Company I, 76th 
Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, is hereby detailed 
for special duty in the quartermaster's department and 
will report without delay to Lieutenant Joseph H. 
Flint, A. A. Q. M., of this brigade, for duty. 
"By order of 

"Brig. Gen. Charles R. Woods. 
"Charles H. Kibler, A. A. G." 

A copy of this was served on me. But this is also 
anticipating the order of events, which I will now en- 
deavor to follow more consecutively. 

In accord with the newly adopted policy of our gov- 
ernment to extend the term of service of its veteran 
soldiers, strong pressure was brought to bear on our 
regiment to persuade those who had served two years 
and over to re-enlist for another term of three years 
or during the war. The term of original enlistment 
would expire the coming fall and it seemed a wise 
precaution, at the beginning of the important opera- 
tions now contemplated, to retain the services of the 
old, tried troops as long as possible, and to know just 
what proportion would drop out next fall. As an in- 
ducement $402 government bounty and thirty days' 
furlough were offered to all who would re-enlist. One 
would think this an almost irresistible incentive, con- 
sidering that there was nearly a year of unexpired 

[85] 



WITH THE 76 IH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

service anyhow. In our company were forty who were 
eligible. Of these twenty-five were induced to accept 
the terms, and fifteen declined. My own case was sin- 
gular. I had been in service but a year and a half, 
therefore while willing to re-enlist, was not eligible. 
However, on promise to re-enlist after I had served 
two years — in case the rule was still in force — I was 
permitted to accompany the veterans on their furlough 
home. These re-enlistments caused me a lot of work, 
which, however, I was perfectly willing to perform, 
being included in the furlough privilege. There were 
required three muster-out rolls, two muster-out and 
pay rolls, five muster-in rolls, and eight rolls for the 
bounty premiimi and advance pay, beside enlistment 
papers, discharge and descriptive rolls. It was a day 
and night job, as all concerned were, like myself, im- 
patient to start home. The pay involved in this pro- 
ceeding afi^ected only those who re-enlisted. This left 
me short of funds for the trip and I had to borrow. 
Naturally, everyone concerned was in the highest an- 
ticipation of seeing home and dear ones again, and 
anxious for a creditable appearance when we got there. 
Our colonel especially was ambitious to show his regi- 
ment off and took vigorous measures to have it brush 
up. I recall his threat that if we were in camp next 

Sunday we would have "one of the d st inspections 

we ever had." 

At the north the 76th received an ovation. Com- 
panies I and K left the balance of the regiment at 
Columbus, Ohio, ours stopping off at Massillon, and 

[86] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

K at Canton, eight miles further east. Never will I 
forget our reception at Massillon. The population 
turned out en masse to meet us at the depot, with bands 
and guard of home militia. The train had no more 
than stopped till we were almost carried bodily out of 
the car. When finally we were able tO' form in line, 
the procession, headed by the band and militia, 
marched to the principal hotel of the city, where a ban- 
quet was in waiting. This over, we scattered to our 
various homes where loved ones were eagerly waiting, 
and the fullness of joy of the meeting after such long 
and trying separation and safe return through so many 
dangers is left to the imagination of my readers. Dur- 
ing our stay we were treated as if nothing was too good 
for our entertainment. It appeared as if the commu- 
nity spent its time and effort those thirty days seeing 
how nearly they could overvv^helm us with glory — noth- 
ing at the final home-coming at the close of the war 
more than a year later approached the enthusiasm of 
this mid-war ovation. 

Returning to the field we were accompanied by some 
thirty to forty new recruits — among them my twin 
brother and a number of boyhood chums and acquaint- 
ances. Rejoining the balance of the regiment en route 
through Ohio we went by rail to Nashville, Tennessee. 
From there, in company with another regiment, we 
marched through to Huntsville, Alabama, distant about 
one hundred and fifty miles, as guard to a train of 
three hundred artillery horses, one hundred army 
wagons, and eighty or ninety ambulances. We eased 

[87] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the trip, however, by free use of the conveyances we 
were guarding. PulHng out of Nashville March 22 
we went into camp two and a half miles out of the city, 
where we drew "pup tents" and the new recruits re- 
ceived their rifles and accoutrements. Delivering our 
charge safely at Huntsville, we expected to get back 
to Paint Rock, thirty-two miles east, by railroad, but 
instead were obliged to convoy another wagon and 
ambulance train there. Reached camp March 30 and 
found the whole brigade out with flying colors and 
best dress to welcome us back. 

Great vigor was now put into the regimental drill 
and discipline in order to bring the new recruits up to 
standard with the old soldiers. The re-organization 
brought about many changes in our officers. Among 
them my old captain was promoted to major and was 
now one of the regimental staff. My good old lieu- 
tenant commander had ''gone up higher" and was cap- 
tain of another company. The lieutenant, his suc- 
cessor in command of our company, was a man of very 
different quality, and leaned hard on me as his scribe 
in keeping the company records and doing the bulk of 
his writing until, on April 23, I was detached for duty 
in the brigade quartermaster's department. This did 
not suit him at all. He offered me a sergeantcy if I 
would throw up the position and return to the com- 
pany, but I had traveled "foot-back" shouldering a 
knapsack and gun to my full satisfaction. The pros- 
pect was much more inviting to henceforth go horse- 
back, my "clothing, camp and garrison equippage" 

[88] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

transported, enjoy the privileges of a headquarters 
attache, and last, but not least, get the scent of battle 
from afar off. So, in obedience to the special order 
hereinbefore quoted, I duly presented myself at brig- 
ade headquarters, on the other side of the railway 
track, introduced myself to Quartermaster Flint, and 
apparently fell into his good graces at sight. Found 
him a courteous, gentlemanly, intelligent officer, his 
worst failing an occasional over-indulgence at his cups. 
We formed a mutual liking for each other — on his side 
with a sort of fatherly air — and we got along together 
on the best of terms during the balance of the war. 

I was leisurely inducted into the duties of my new 
position, which were easy for me and a radical relief 
from the wear and tear in the ranks as I had experi- 
enced them the previous year and a half. Henceforth 
I was at liberty to skirt the field of battle and gauge 
the distance from peril by my fears. I am willing to 
confess that I did not often, wilfully, put myself where 
shot and shell were flying very thickly. There was no 
longer any compulsion for me to court such danger, 
and I wasn't of the nature to dare danger for the fun 
of it. 

ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 

Here my active association with my company and 
regiment ceased, so that my narrative of the following 
events must take on a wider range. I was with them, 
but not of them, and our personal experiences of quite 
a different character. The activity of preparation that 

[89] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

had been going on at our Paint Rock camp those four 
months was only a small part of the mighty force that 
was gaining form and strength for the next advance 
into the strongholds of the rebellion. Sherman, to 
whose magnificent generalship had been entrusted the 
conception and execution of the move in which we 
were about to take part, had gathered together in the 
neighborhood of Chattanooga an army of about one 
hundred thousand men with all necessary equipment. 

May I we pulled out of Paint Rock to start into the 
Atlanta campaign, our ranks again filled, and the old 
soldiers recuperated by four months' rest. New life 
and energy had been put into the veterans, while over 
a month's drill and discipline associated with trained 
soldiers had given the new recruits the swing of mili- 
tary life. All they lacked was the practical experience 
of field and battle, and it was not long till they were 
thoroughly initiated into that. The fourth day out 
found us at Shell Mound. This was the third time I 
had cam.paigned over the same road, and I was able to 
realize how truly circumstances alter cases. The sea- 
son of the year added to the brightness of the contrast. 
Our previous trips had been in the late fall and winter 
— bleak, stormy and uninviting in every aspect of na- 
ture. Then I had tramped the way on foot, cumbered 
with my equipment, too tired for anything, my only de- 
sire to get wherever we were going and a little rest. 
Now I was horseback, my baggage on the headquar- 
ters wagon — and how different the aspect of things to 
me as we passed along! Spring foliage on all sides, 

[90] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the woods full of flowers, mountain sides in places cov- 
ered with clusters of giant cactus, our roadway amid the 
rich profusion of southern springtime. All this the 
nature of my new duties gave me ample leisure to 
thoroughly enjoy. During a brief stop here I rode 
over to see Nickajack Cave, a natural curiosity, and 
near it a stream of water large enough for a mill race 
gushing out of the foot of the mountain. At the camp 
here, our company captain, just back from the north, 
rejoined us, bringing with him a new set of regimental 
colors. 

It is not desirable and I do not propose to take much 
time and space with details of our movements in the 
notable Atlanta campaign. With our Fifteenth Corps 
on the march headed for Chattanooga and trainload 
after trainload of troops passing us in the same direc- 
tion, it was evident to us that some big project was at 
hand. On leaving Shell Mound (taking only a general 
view of the movements in which we were involved), 
we followed General McPherson's leadership by all 
sorts of checkerboard routes and movements in the 
operations of that brilliant campaign. Through Snake 
Greek Gap toResaca,then southward along the railroad, 
fighting, flanking and driving the stubborn, splendidly 
handled Confederates by slow but sure process from 
position to position. We reached Big Shanty, Georgia, 
June lo. Here Kenesaw mountain, two or three miles 
in our front, with Pine mountain and Lost mountain, 
isolated spires ofif to our right, barricaded further 
progress for some time. For several days our brigade 

'91] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

lay about a quarter-mile south of the village, then 
moved forward one and a half miles and intrenched in 
front of the enemy's works. As we passed through 
Big Shanty I recall noticing Generals Sherman and 
McPherson conferring together on the porch of one of 
the residences, and the impression each made on my 
mind as I observed them in conversation. Sherman, 
tall, lithe, careless and plain in dress, restless, nervous, 
and decisive in his movements— McPherson, dignified 
and commanding in person, and trig and immaculate 
in uniform, with all the insignia of his rank. Both 
were regarded as skillful, brave leaders — very popular 
with their troops, the utmost confidence existing be- 
tween the two generals, and between them and the men 
under their command. At this village we had emerged 
from the mountain range which bounded the horizon 
back of us, — Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains, as 
before stated, being isolated spurs standing out like 
sentinels in advance of the range. These spurs, with 
lines connecting them, were held by our foes, and back 
of them lay Marietta, the next station southward on 
the railroad. 

In front of this obstruction Sherman's army settled 
down for a season. The railway and bridges in our 
rear, which had been destroyed by the enemy as they 
retreated, were put into order again almost as rapidly 
as we advanced, so that by the 19th the railway trains 
came up with supplies and mail. The skill and resource 
exhibited by our pioueer corps, and other men taken 
out of the ranks for the various emergencies that arose 

[92] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

throughtout our armies, was remarkable and a great 
tribute to the quality of American soldiery. These 
armies were composed of men, intelligent and skillful, 
from all vocations of civil life, and among them were 
those who could be found to fit into every emergency 
that presented itself, whether it be to build railways 
and bridges, repair and run a locomotive, operate a tel- 
egraph line, run a mill, set type in a printing office, in 
fact anything professional or mechanical. Let the call 
be made and there were ready hands to do whatever 
was required. So, in the march along this line of road 
where so much destruction preceded the troops, we 
hardly got into camp until the saucy, defiant whistle of 
the locomotive could be heard just in our rear. Brigade 
headquarters were established only about a half mile 
to the rear of the 76th, and every once in while a 
"camp kettle," as we got to calling the enemy's larger 
shells, plunked down uncomfortably close to our quar- 
ters. Frequently I went forward to visit the boys at 
the front, always as a non combatant, however, ready 
to retreat at any outbreak of hostilities. Big Shanty, 
twenty-seven miles north of Atlanta, was already noted 
as the station from whence started the actors in the 
''Great Railroad Adventure" in their daring and wild 
ride northward in a stolen locomotive and couple of 
box cars. By a preconcerted plan the raiders, volun- 
teers from Mitchell's army, got possession of the train 
while its conductor went in to dinner, and only some 
unfortunate mischance prevented their accomplishing 
their mission, after they had succeeded in getting a 

[93] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

good start. Their object was to burn bridges south of 
Chattanooga in order to help along some military 
movement. The whole book with its story of this ad- 
venture and the fate of the raiders, is intensely inter- 
esting. William Pittenger, its author and one of the 
party, was shortly after the war pastor of my home 
church. The old locomotive, of such historic interest, 
is still preserved and has been exhibited at national en- 
campments of the Grand Army of the Republic. I had 
the pleasure of seeing it at the Columbus, Ohio, en- 
campment some time in the '8o's. 

Sherman made one of the mistakes of his career in 
directly assaulting Kenesaw, a position naturally almost 
impregnable. He gives his reason that he had hope of 
its success, but that at any rate he wished to convince 
the enemy he dared to fight as well as flank. Repulse 
and disastrous loss followed, and if the enemy were con- 
vinced in the way Sherman argued, it must have had a 
correspondingly depressing effect on his own army. 
After this bloody repulse of June 27, the old flanking 
tactics were resumed, compelling Johnson to abandon 
his last stronghold north of the Chattahoochee river. 
He retreated across the river, destroying the railroad 
bridge, and we followed him to his fortifications about 
Atlanta. Then began the couple months' memorable 
siege of that city. Till July 22 the enemy held a strong 
position along the south bank of Peach Tree creek. 
Our Fifteenth Corps was in the neighborhood of De- 
catur, some six miles east of Atlanta, otir brigade head- 
quarters being in Decatur, when Hood, on July 22, 

[94] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

made his sudden and vicious attack on our left flank. 
For a while he swept things before him and dire con- 
fusion reigned about Decatur. We came near being 
swept into the whirlpool, but the Fifteenth and Seven- 
teenth Corps were fighters, and while suffering severe- 
ly at the first onset, soon, under Logan (McPherson 
being killed), rallied, drove back their assailants and 
recovered their lost ground and artillery. My regiment 
was involved in this battle and Company I lost a num- 
ber of men. I am reminded as I write this, that my 
letter home was the first information received there 
telling who were killed and who wounded, and I after- 
wards learned of some pathetic incidents connected 
with the carrying of the news to relatives, especially 
one widowed mother whose only son, a lieutenant, was 
killed. But such is war. The bullet that lays the sol- 
dier low most always pierces the heart of one or more 
in the home of which he was the light or support. 
Defeated in this assault of the 22nd, the enemy with- 
drew from their line of works along Peach Tree Creek 
to their strong intrenchments just outside the city. 
Thereupon we were shifted from Decatur around to 
the north and west of Atlanta. Here, about August i, 
the quartermaster, forage master and myself were or- 
dered back to the Chattahoochee river bridge to pro- 
cure and issue supplies for our brigade. The troops 
were reduced to serious extremities, but abundant sup- 
plies had been brought forward and in three or four 
days we were enabled to put them in comfortable con- 
dition again. 

[95] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

While stationed here, engaged in this work, I had 
the good fortune to witness a piece of expert engineer- 
ing, demonstrating the skill of our construction corps. 
As before stated, the Confederates in their retreat 
across the Chattahoochee had destroyed the railway 
bridge by burning it. Upon our army getting footing 
upon the other side the erection of a wooden trestle 
bridge was begim, but work was suspended by Sher- 
man's order until he had, at least so rumor s<iid, made 
a sure thing of Atlanta. On August 2 work on this 
bridge was resumed, gangs of men working from each 
end toward the middle, and in two days the immense 
structure was practically complete, ready for the rails. 
I estimated it to be seventy or eighty feet high above 
the water, and one hundred and fifty to two hundred 
yards long, built substantially, complete, safe for the 
heavy traffic it would have to bear in three or four 
days. 

My notes make mention that up to this period our 
pay was nine months in arrears, six months at $13 and 
three months at $16, so that I was confined strictly to 
government rations and clothing. What the poor fel- 
lows did who had families to support back at the north 
is a puzzle to me which probably those dependent fam- 
ilies only were able to work out by the help of loyal 
and sympathetic neighbors. It suggests a phase of the 
war — sacrifice and suffering on the part of women and 
children in the north — that we do not give them enough 
credit for while lauding the men at the front. We 
ought to take into consideration, too, what these men 

[96] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

of family in our ranks had to suffer in addition to the 
rigors of war — mental and heart stress that we "foot 
loose" boys knew nothing about. Our war histories 
abound with the details of various flanking movements 
directed by Sherman to get at the enemy's arteries of 
supplies, so I need merely mention those in which we 
were directly involved. By a series of over-lapping 
shifts, the several corps were gradually worked around 
west of Atlanta to the railroad below and east with the 
object of cutting off the southern communications of 
the city. This brought about severe engagements at 
Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro, etc., in which our regi- 
ment suffered loss. Eventually Sherman secured pos- 
session of these railroads with such a firm grip that the 
enemy was compelled to abandon Atlanta, and on Sep- 
tember 3 we could hear the dull booms of explosion 
as they blew up their stores on leaving. Thus ended 
the historic Atlanta campaign, with our victorious 
army at the heart of the Southern Confederacy. 

AFTER ATLANTA. 

Marching back from below Jonesboro, our brigade 
went into camp September 8 at East Point, on the rail- 
road about five miles southwest of Atlanta. A letter 
written home by me at this time indicates what service 
devolved on me aside from clerical work in the quarter- 
master's department, as well as preserves a very inter- 
esting (to me) record of our brigade organization in 
this campaign. Headquarters were established about 

[97] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

one hundred yards from East Point, a railway junc- 
tion, our regiment the 76th Ohio, just inside the fortifi- 
cations at that place. Two others were just outside to 
the right, the rest of the brigade from one half mile to 
one and one-half miles toward Atlanta. The brigade 
comprised the 76th Ohio, 26th Iowa, 12th Indiana, 
27th, 29th, 31st and 32nd Missouri, and detachments 
of the 3rd, 1 2th, and 17th Missouri. Each of these had 
to receive an order concerning quartermaster's supplies 
and I was obliged to hunt them up and deliver the or- 
der. It was no light job, considering these regiments 
were mixed up with the rest of the division and a soak- 
ing rain falling. I got no chance to scout around sight- 
seeing while here, we were so continuously occupied 
receiving and issuing supplies that came stringing 
along. Sick and wounded were sent back to hospitals, 
and the situation made clear for renewed work, which 
Hood's sudden and foolhardy break northward to our 
rear, soon forced upon us. Directly at this move of 
his, sufficient force was left in Atlanta to hold it, and 
the rest of us set out on a hot chase after him, back 
over the route by which we had so lately come to At- 
lanta. It seemed a very erratic game, this doubling on 
our tracks, but it was characteristic of Hood's peculiar 
tactics, which failed to accomplish any valuable results 
for the Confederacy. Instead, it ended in the almost 
utter destruction of his brave army a couple of months 
later when Thomas, at Nashville, crushed it to pieces. 
Hood started from his position below A^tlanta Octo- 
ber I and we were in motion after him vvdthin three or 

[98] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

four days. He first struck Altoona, where General 
Corse of our Third Division, with but two thousand 
men, successfully stood off and repulsed a division of 
the enemy after fierce and repeated assaults. The 
vicinity was still full of the Confederate wounded as 
we passed through immediately after, following but 
never able to catch up with their army in its swift 
march northward. It was here that General Sherman 
signalled to Corse while the fight was raging, ''Hold 
the fort for I am coming," the message that suggested 
the poplar hymn with that title. During this trip the 
term of service of our first three years men, non-veter- 
ans, expired, and they left us to return home. Hood 
had got off the line, leaving communication open with 
the north. We saw these old, tried comrades depart 
with the deepest regret. They were among the very 
best timber of our company, brave men and loyal, and 
no reflection can be cast upon them for their declining 
to re-enlist and continue their arduous service. Each 
had his sufficient reason. Others of us were just as 
surfeited with soldiering, but bounties and furlough 
had proved too seductive an inducement. We bade 
them Godspeed and took up our further burden accord- 
ing to contract. 

MARCH TO THE SEA. 

Driving Hood's army up toward Nashville to be 
taken care of by General Thomas, who had been rein- 
forced by our Fourth Corps, Sherman turned his col- 
umns southward again and proceeded to get together 

[99] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the forces for his celebrated "March to the Sea." The 
railroad station between Atlanta and Chattanooga was 
abandoned after being rendered as useless as possible 
to the enemy. Atlanta was laid waste with a relentless 
and merciless hand. With foes of the character of the 
southern people, our fellow countrymen, Sherman rec- 
ognized that nothing short of absolute impoverishment 
in men and means could bring about their conquest and 
the termination of the war. In view of this he deter- 
mined that this center of supply in the heart of their 
country should be rendered useless as possible as 
a base of operation for the future operations of 
the Confederate armies. This caused what seemed 
cruel hardship and sufifering to non-combatants and 
extreme bitterness on the part of the southerners, 
but Sherman justified the act as necessary to hasten 
the end of the war. 

Then, sixty thousand strong, we set out on this 
famous march, romantic and dubious as to its outcome 
at the start, but destined to be the grandest "walk- 
away" that its participants had yet indulged in. Our 
command was in Howard's right wing of a column 
that swept a range of country some fifty to sixty miles 
wide down through a section of the Confederacy that 
had not yet been ravaged by the war. As to the col- 
umn to which I^ was attached, the first town we passed 
through on our way was McDonough, county seat of 
Henry county ; thence across the Ocmulgee river five 
miles east of Jackson, county seat of Butts county. 
Then through Clinton, county seat of Jones county, and 

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WITH THE 76rH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

crossed the railroad near Gordon. Met some opposition 
and our brigade had a pretty stiff httle brush with the 
enemy at Griswold, a short distance westward on the 
road toward Macon, the capital of Georgia, only some 
twenty miles distant. Thence passed through Irwin- 
ton, county seat of Wilkinson county, crossing the 
Oconee river east of that town. From here our course 
lay through a sparsely settled country west of the 
Ogeechee river, which we crossed three miles above 
where the Cannoucha river enters it. After crossing 
the Ogeechee, marched up the south bank of Ogeechee 
canal to within four miles of Savannah, thence off to the 
right or southward to a point nine miles from the city, 
where we went into camp. I might say a few words 
about the character of the country along this line of 
march. That between Atlanta and Irwinton is fine, 
fertile, prosperous appearing, and attractive. From 
Irwinton eastward our route was through level pine 
forests, carpeted with the fallen dry foliage of these 
trees, so that it was like walking on soft Brussels. 
Miles apart in this forest we would occasionally come 
across a little clearing containing the poverty-stricken 
habitation of one of the "poor white trash" of the south 
— as densely ignorant specimens of humanity as can 
well be conceived. Judging from interviews I had with 
some of them, they stayed pretty close to home and got 
no information from the outside world. At one place 
they couldn't tell me the name of the nearest river or 
town. One "mossback" looking sort of a fellow of 
whom I enquired his age answered he would be "forty- 

[101] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

five year old next peach crop." He looked to be sixty, 
but possibly there had been a number of "peach crop" 
failures and they didn't count. Many horses and mules 
were found hidden in the recesses of this forest, where 
they had been run off from neighboring farms. The 
26th Iowa of our brigade made a rich haul of over fifty 
at one place and officials were supplied with fine horses 
thus captured. 

Passing thus through new, well provisioned territory 
not heretofore foraged over, it need not be said that we 
''fared sumptuously every day." There was no lack of 
smoked hams, fresh pork, turkeys, chickens, sweet po- 
tatoes, molasses, honey, etc., — farm products of all 
kinds. Forage abundant and all the conditions so fa- 
vorable that according to official report the condition of 
horses and mules with our army was improved at least 
twenty-five per cent by the time we reached Savannah. 
Personally, practically all the employment I had 
was to forage, and I certainly did not neglect my 
opportunities. Our men reveled in the profusion 
and variety of good things that I had no particular 
trouble in "swiping" as we passed along. Occa- 
sionally, at some abandoned house near our road- 
way, and as we approached our night camp, I 
could fetch in a sack full of china ware, so we could 
dine in style. Houses occupied by families were 
seldom seriously disturbed. Orders were strict 
that such were not to be entered or their occu- 
pants ill treated, although we usually made free with 
whatever was serviceable on the outlying premises, or 
that was good for food. But houses were often found 

[102] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

deserted, and in such we felt more at liberty to ransack 
and take away what evidently had been left for us. 
Theoretically, perhaps, and in a humane sense, this may 
not have been right, but as we were ''marching through 
Georgia" for the main purpose of crippling the enemy's 
resources, as well as whatever other object Sherman 
had in view, we felt justified in helping ourselves and 
conscience did not rebuke us. 

This abundance, however, suddenly ceased when we 
reached the outskirts of Savannah, where Fort 
McAllister at the mouth of the Ogeechee, blockaded 
supplies from reaching us by way of our ocean 
fleet. In this interval our fare was limited to rice, 
threshed by all sorts of tedious processes from 
neighboring stacks. By the time our cracker line 
was opened, my appetite for rice was permanently 
disabled. The whole country about Savannah, at 
least in the neighborhood of our location east 
of the Ogeechee near its mouth, appeared to be 
cut up into rice fields, each plantation having its 
canals, the waters in which were higher than the level 
of the land. These rice fields were cut up into plats by 
ditches and at certain periods flooded with water from 
the canals, then after a suitable time drained off by 
means of the ditches. Rice farming had evidently been 
a prosperous vocation, judging from the fine, mansion- 
like dwellings of the planters and beautiful surround- 
ings, all indicating wealth and luxury. On one of these 
plantations which I visited there were negro quarters 
suflicient to house from two hundred to three hundred 
slaves. Fort McAllister, guarding the mouth of the 

[1031 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Ogeechee river, was taken by assault by our Third 
division about December 15, opening up communica- 
tion with our ocean fleet, and putting us in the way of 
procuring much needed suppHes. 

We had been five weeks without any news whatever 
from the outside world, and were quite anxious to se- 
cure the large mail which we learned had been accu- 
mulating at Hilton Head. It can be imagined, too, that 
our relatives and friends in the north were more than 
anxious to know what had become of Sherman and his 
army, who had "gone into a hole at Atlanta and pulled 
the hole in after them." Savannah was evacuated by 
the enemy just in the nick of time to avoid being shut 
in. They got away northward across the Savannah 
river before the investment of the place could be com- 
pleted. We entered December 21, our brigade among 
the first. I aimed to go in with them, but delay in 
piloting the train into camp, for which my services 
were required, prevented. Brigade headquarters were 
established in the southwest part of the city, but the 76th 
was encamped about two miles distant on the bank of 
the Savannah river. They were comfortably quartered 
in tents captured on entering the city. Our colonel, 
William B. Woods, was appointed provost marshal of 
the Eastern District of Savannah and his regiment as- 
signed to provost guard duty. Procuring the necessary 
pass, as leisure from my duties permitted, I scouted 
about to see the places of interest, among them the 
beautiful Pulaski monument and park on Bull street, 
county jail, etc. What particularly impressed me was 

[104] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the Catholic cemetery about two miles out of the city. 
With its grand old live-oak trees festooned with a 
heavy drapery of gray moss, its beautiful monuments 
and smooth winding roads, it was a place of sombre 
beauty long to be remembered. Many of the graves 
were covered with beautiful polished shells, such as 
ornament the parlor mantels in many northern homes. 
I noticed the streets of Savannah were narrow and un- 
paved,but there were many handsome residences, most- 
ly brick, and something else I couldn't help noticing af- 
ter a dearth of such visions — the very pretty girls. They 
were a feast to the eyes and refreshing to the soul 
viewed from a distance, but of their characteristics I 
can say nothing, for I had no means of getting ac- 
quainted with any of them, even so far as to speak to 
one. It is to be presumed they were all ''unrecon- 
structed" and that a "Yankee" boy would have 
had no chance of favor in their eyes. Anyhow, I 
never made the attempt. The previous Christmas 
day I had celebrated as train guard, partaking of 
my Christmas dinner of raw pickled pork and hard- 
tack, seated astride a log in a swamp near Larkens- 
ville, Alabama. This Christmas anniversary was 
spent in different fashion and environments. Also 
it happened to be Sunday. Our office and my 
quarters had to be moved nearer town and a nasty, 
dirty job it proved. First, about a foot deep of 
dirt and truck had to be removed from the rooms 
we were to occupy ; then a bunk built and our 
office furniture brought over. After taking a bath in 

[105] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the water bucket I used the water to mop the floor, 
which indicates that water was scarce or I had one of 
my tired spells. All this being accomplished I was at 
leisure to enjoy my Christmas dinner ot hardtack, 
boiled beef and sweet potatoes. I note that it rained 
hard that night and the gala spirit of the day was aug- 
mented by finding I had built my bunk under a hole in 
the roof through which the water trickled down on me 
all night. During our stay here we enjoyed the luxury 
of fresh oysters. There were beds near the city and 
occasionally some of my headquarters associates would 
go out in a skiff to dredge for them. I wanted to go 
along but their excursions happened at just such times 
as I could not get away. 

THROUGH THE CAROLINAS. 

Sherman with his army stayed about Savannah only 
long enough to get ready for their northward march, 
which was to demonstrate, as the march through Geor- 
gia had largely done, that the Confederacy had become 
only a hollow shell, its resources of defenders exhaust- 
ed. The "heft" of resistance had become centered 
about Richmond, where Lee's forces had been able so 
long to withstand all of Grant's efforts, and the aim 
now seemed to be to get his army between Grant's and 
ours, when surrender or annihilation was inevitable. 
In the sequel, however, the brave army of the Potomac 
effected that result of themselves before we reached 
there, and the credit is all theirs. 

January lo, 1865, we loaded our belongings and 
[106] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

moved to Fort Thunderbolt, on the bank of the Savan- 
nah near its mouth, preparatory to embarking on ocean 
steamers for Beaufort, South CaroHna. That night the 
76th got off. Others of the brigade followed as fast 
as transports arrived. The last to embark was the 26th 
Iowa, with whom we (quartermaster, adjutant general, 
orderly, myself and other headquarters employees) 
went. The ocean trip, short as it was, proved trying to 
the stomachs of a number of our passengers who suf- 
fered with seasickness, but I, fortunately, escaped any 
ill effects. Arriving at Beaufort we disembarked and 
lay at Gardner's Corners, fifteen miles out, until Mon- 
day, January 30. From here our column started that 
day on its arduous campaign through the Carolinas, 
which was to end the war and witness the collapse of 
the Southern Confederacy. The troops marched that 
day to McPhersonville, passing throu,2:h Pocotaligo. 
Our men stopped at Pocotaligo over night for the shel- 
ter of a small, dilapidated house there, but the other 
fellows got hold of some bad whisky and kept up such 
a racket that I moved my traps and slept out-doors. 
Resuming the march northward we passed through 
Barnwell on February i and met some opposition at 
Hickory Hill, near which place we camped for the 
night. After this, nothing of particular note occurred 
until we struck the Charleston & South Carolina rail- 
road at Bamberg, a small hamlet three miles west of 
Midway, six miles from South Edisto river, twelve 
from Branchville, and seventy-six from Charleston. 
On the way to Bamberg, crossed the Big Salkehatchie 

[107] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

at Buford's bridge ; also crossed the Little Salkehat- 
chie and South Edisto rivers. It is remarkable how 
many small streams there are in this section of coun- 
try, bordered by swampy land with a good deal of 
quicksand. Where we crossed the Big Salkehatchie 
the road lay through a dense swamp about half a mile 
wide as we approached, and had to be corduroyed the 
whole distance. On higher ground on the opposite side 
were formidable works commanding this road ; but 
our advance troops had flanked the enemy out of these 
before we reached there. On entering South Carolina 
it was made apparent that the Union troops were dis- 
playing a notably different temper than in any of their 
previous campaigns. The spirit of destruction was 
always rampant enough, but heretofore the strongest 
official restraint was put on it and a large degree of 
discrimination was exercised in destroying property. 
Here, however, it seemed to be borne in mind that 
they were in the state that had been most active and 
vicious in breeding disunion sentiment ; first and most 
bitter inaugurating the rebellion, and largely responsi- 
ble for all the suffering that ensued. Remembering 
this our troops were disposed to take advantage of 
their opportunity to wreak retribution on the heads of 
its inhabitants. Our commander himself was always 
bold to insist that the people who started and kept up 
the war had no right to complain of its rigors and hor- 
rors, and he was relentless when it seemed to him nec- 
essary for the advantage of the Union armies. He 
firmly adhered to this policy, despite the protests and 

[108] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

bitter denunciation of Confederate authorities and 
their pleas of its inhumanity. His reply on one occa- 
sion that "War is hell" became proverbial, and its 
truth cannot be questioned. Therefore, recognizing 
that South Carolina had invited all these ills by her 
own disloyal conduct and deserved a full measure of 
such calamity, he winked at the destruction that fol- 
lowed the march of his armies from their entrance to 
their exit from the state. From Pocotaligo our path- 
way could be traced by the column of smoke back of 
us. No harm was done to people in their homes, and 
such homes were not molested. All outlawry was 
strictly prohibited and violations sternly punished. 
But unoccupied property and all property considered 
of use to the Confederate armies was ruthlessly de- 
stroyed. 

We reached Bamberg February 7 and brigade head- 
quarters were established in the home of a citizen, who 
tendered the use of it for the protection it gave his 
property. Myself and a couple of General Woods or- 
derlies had ridden ahead of the column and it curiously 
happened had captured several turkeys, chickens and 
other forage at this same house. Soon as located for 
the night we had one of the household servants, an ex- 
cellent cook it proved, dress and roast our biggest tur- 
key, weighing seventeen and one-half pounds dressed. 
This was done in the cook house detached from the 
main dwelling and then brought to our quarters. We 
observed the proprieties by sending to the lady of the 
house a generous portion served on a white platter 

[109] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

embellished with hardtack, and received her courteous 
acknowledgement. Of course she had no knowledge 
it was a piece of her own turkey. 

During our stop at Bamberg the troops were busily 
occupied destroying railway track. They had become 
adepts at this by much practice. Notwithstanding the 
hurry and rapidity with which it was done, it was done 
efficiently. Rails were detached from ties. Then the 
ties piled up in squares and the rails laid across the 
top, and fire set to the pile. When red hot the rails 
were twisted by means of strong iron tongs applied at 
each end, and thenceforth were useless until remelted 
and re-rolled. In the earlier part of the war it was 
discovered that rails heated and merely bent could soon 
be straightened and used again. Leaving Bamberg, 
we soon ran into something new and novel in the way 
of experience. Our progress northward brought us 
into pine territory, where the production of rosin ap- 
peared to be an extensive industry. The forest trees 
bordering our roadway had been "tapped" — that is, a 
patch of bark taken ofif, of a certain size and peculiar 
form (in shape a good deal like the picture of an open 
book). This exposed surface was gouged or furrowed 
up and down, with a channel cut across the bottom, 
and out of it the sap oozed to harden, on exposure, 
ready for gathering. It may be imagined a pine woods 
in this condition is a dangerous place for a fire to get 
started. By some means the forest ahead of us had 
got afire and we had to run the gauntlet. At one 
place, a short distance from the road had been stored 

[110] 



WITH THE 76111 OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

several hundred barrels of rosin. This caught and the 
roar of its burning could be heard long before we 
reached the scene, creating such a dense smoke as to 
obscure the sun. It was as if Hades had been let loose. 
Trains dashed through on the run and it seemed al- 
most miraculous that some of the ordnance wagons 
weren't blown up. Troops scattered through the 
woods at will and got through the best they could. 

In the course of three or four days we crossed the 
North Edisto near Orangeburg, meeting with some 
resistance there. From here nothing worthy of note 
occurred until we arrived within five or six miles of 
Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, near the cross- 
ing of the Saluda river. Here, lively skirmishing 
opened up on the 14th. My brother, of our company, 
on picket that night had a very narrow escape from 
capture. While with a detail of others on outpost duty 
the enemy made a sudden and unexpected dash on 
them, capturing several men and getting his knapsack. 
Riding up behind the regiment next morning I found 
him destitute of everything but the clothing he had 
on, but was able to supply his needs by dividing what 
I had with him. I replenished my stock of blankets a 
little later on in the city just ahead of us. On the 15th 
the enemy retreated toward Columbia and we crossed 
the Saluda, entering on a wide, undulating plain ex- 
tending to the city, four or five miles distant. Here, 
next day, I had a splendid view from a small eminence 
of the maneuvering of our whole corps. It was like a 
panorama. xA.t one place on a road near to and run- 

[111] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

ning parallel with the river (the Congaree), could be 
seen a column of our troops and teams double-quicking 
across an open space in plain view and easy range of 
a four-gun battery playing on them from heights 
across the river. The guns were worked as rapidly as 
they could be loaded, but the cannoneers must have been 
amateurs, the firing was so wild and damage so slight. 
Not a man in the column was hit, and the only damage 
done was a couple of mules killed and a pontoon 
wagon shot through. Our column moved on a parallel 
line to a point above the city, exposed to this same 
battery, but it did not bother us, being too busily occu- 
pied with the nearer target. During this movement I 
rode back to the wagon train to get my dinner, and on 
returning found De Greiss had planted one of his 
twenty-pound Parrott guns in the middle of the road 
running into Columbia and was sending an occasional 
shot into the city across the river. General Sherman 
was standing by the gun and directing the firing at 
knots of rebel cavalry as they showed themselves in 
the streets. 

That evening our Second Division moved about two 
miles up the river and during the night several regi- 
ments were raffed across. As day dawned skirmishing 
began and I rode up to watch the proceedings. From 
where I sat on my horse viewing the scene, the ground 
directly across the river was low and flat, beyond that 
hilly. Away ofif to the left on high ground was an 
open field skirted with woods. Out of the woods, while 
our skirmishers were busy climbing the hills in our 

[112] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

front, suddenly appeared a column of infantry into the 
open field, with the evident intent to flank our skir- 
mishers. This was no sooner observed from my posi- 
tion than a twelve-pounder brass piece was rushed up, 
flew into position with a snap, quick aim taken and in 
less time than it takes me to tell it a shell burst just 
over the advancing column. The effect was simply 
ludicrous. That battalion dissolved as if by magic, 
the commander's coat-tails standing straight out as 
his horse galloped him off the field. It is to be pre- 
sumed these were militia, not yet accustomed to the 
shriek of shells, as were our seasoned veterans un- 
der yesterday's artillery fire. 

By noon pontoons were laid and our forces proceed- 
ed to cross. First, General Sherman and staff, next 
Howard and staff. Then Logan with staff and escort, 
followed by our division commander, Charles R. 
Woods and staff, and Brigadier General William B. 
Woods at the head of our brigade. I crossed with 
brigade staff, but by the time we entered the city was 
pretty well up to the front. Soon as the opportunity 
presented, I struck off into a side street. Stopping at 
the side entrance to the yard of a fine residence, the 
brigade saddler, who accompanied me, held our 
horses while I went in to prospect. Found a smoke- 
house and sent a darkey after the key. I presume we 
were objects of great curiosity to the lot of colored 
people who gathered in that back yard and at a re- 
spectable distance viewed the "Lincum" soldiers for 
the first time, and wondering what was going to hap- 

[113] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

pen. They were very obsequious and obedient and it 
wasn't long till my messenger handed me the key I 
wanted. Helping myself to four nice hams and a jug 
of molasses I relocked the smoke-house and sent the 
key back. Meantime, the lady of the house, a hand- 
some, matronly woman, ventured out and pleaded with 
me to use my influence with General Sherman to have 
her property protected. Not having confidence in my 
influence with the general, and not caring to try it, I 
quieted her fears and suggested what I thought she 
had best do, then quietly departed. At next place vis- 
ited got some fine, soft woolen blankets and a few 
other needed articles, and just got out of the way of 
General Sherman, who happened to take up his quar- 
ters at the same house. 

Here let me confess to the only bit of burglary I 
was ever guilty of. About this stage of affairs as I 
wandered about, in an abandoned warehouse office we 
discovered a safe and proceeded to find out what was 
inside. By means of sledges and stones, after a great 
deal of hard labor, we contrived to pound the doors off 
and I grabbed a pocket-book which appeared to be the 
most valuable object in sight. Stepping aside to count 
its contents I found a single one-dollar Confederate 
note. The other contents of the safe were simply ac- 
count books. Some members of our company, how- 
ever, found rich booty during our occupation of Colum- 
bia, in the way of gold and silver ware, which they 
contrived to smuggle home ; but the one-dollar Con- 
federate bill was the extent of my stolen spoil, except 

[114] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the relic hereinafter mentioned. Somehow or other I 
could not bring myself down to the practice of ran- 
sacking houses and stores for booty. This one piece of 
burglary was my first and last. 

For brigade headquarters we occupied the house of 
an aide on Confederate General Perkins' stafif, whose 
family had abandoned it. There were several fine 
libraries, one in the basement room which I occupied. 
There was nothing lacking for the most comfortable 
house-keeping and sleeping while we domiciled here, 
and we reveled in the luxury of rich china ware, bed- 
ding, books, etc. In the parlor I found framed and 
hanging on the wall a fac simile copy of South Caro- 
lina's ordinance of secession as originally drafted and 
signed. This I appropriated, taking it out of the frame 
and carrying it rolled up, eventually succeeding in get- 
ting it home, where I still possess it as one of my val- 
uable war relics. 

While Sherman was in possession of the city, our 
brigade commander and old colonel, William B. 
Woods, was assigned the position of provost marshal 
and our brigade held there for duty. The evening of 
our entry fire broke out in the southwest part of the 
city, concerning which there has been much contro- 
versy, and bitter recrimination against Sherman and 
his army on the part of southerners. To my mind 
there is no question but that the Confederate authori- 
ties were themselves responsible for its start. In aban- 
doning the city they had set fire to a lot of cotton. The 
day v/as clear and a very stiff wind blowing. As we 

[115] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

marched into the city this cotton was being blown and 
scattered in large flakes. This I saw and am satisfied 
was the first cause of the conflagration that ensued. 
Started by such means, I have no doubt our exasper- 
ated soldiers — some of them — may have had a hand in 
keeping it going. Liquor was found in plenty, and the 
bulk of our army were not teetotalers. A Union sol- 
dier, filled with South Carolina whisky, in Columbia, 
the capital of South Carolina, the hot-bed of secession, 
would certainly not be expected to exercise much mod- 
eration or self-restraint under the circumstances which 
found us there — no matter what views righteous-mind- 
ed critics may have of their conduct. As before inti- 
mated, our army did not feel bound by the ordinary 
restraints of humane warfare — while campaigning 
through this particular state. But be this side of the 
question as it may, our officers and a large majority of 
the men worked nobly to stay the conflagration. The 
rest of our division, which had gone into camp some 
distance out, was brought into the city and labored 
heroically with the fire engines and other means at 
hand to subdue the flames and prevent their spread. 
All in all, pandemonium reigned that night, and it was 
indeed a pitiable one for the helpless residents, mostly 
women and children, driven from comfortable houses 
and made destitute. My heart went out to them as I 
saw them huddled on their porches or in front of their 
homes, fearfully watching the advancing flames, ready 
to flee. But such is war — the helpless and innocent 
suffering with the guilty — and surely if any part of 

[116] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

the south merited such retribution, it was this self- 
same city. When we departed northward many white 
refugees went with us, which would indicate the confi- 
dence they had in the honor of our army in spite of the 
disaster this army had brought to them. Of these ref- 
ugees, some were homeless, others tired of the war — 
desiring to reach some temporary haven of protection. 
They accompanied the invaders undisturbed and in 
perfect safety as far as Fayetteville, if I remember 
correctly, and from there were sent down Cape Fear 
river to Wilmington. Another unique class of camp 
followers on this march, as on nearly all others of our 
armies through the slave states, were the negroes strik- 
ing out for freedom. Here, as in the Georgia cam- 
paign, could be seen their long line, flanking our 
marching column, which had the right of way — as odd 
and grotesque a caravan as can well be imagined. Dar- 
kies old and darkies young — men, women and chil- 
dren, most of them walking, the older ones loaded 
down with something — worldly goods or babies. Oth- 
ers, with transportation of the most varied and prim- 
itive sorts — decrepit wagons and buggies, with rickety 
horses, mules and even cows harnessed to them. Oc- 
casionally might be seen a cow covered with a blanket 
containing several pouches, out of which was poked 
the woolly head of a pickaninny. Women carrying bun- 
dles almost as big as themselves on their heads — all 
trudging along tirelessly day after day toward, as they 
imagined, the Land of Canaan — to freedom, at least, 
'ihe white refugees had some definite haven in view, 

[117] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

but these ex-slaves were drifting into the bUndest fu- 
turity. They dissolved out of our sight and knowl- 
edge, I didn't notice when, where, or how. We paid 
no attention to them. 

Quitting Columbia February 20, we pursued our 
way northeasterly toward Fayetteville, crossing the 
Wataree, Big and Little Lynch creeks near where they 
fork, and the Great Pedee and Lumber rivers — beside 
creeks innumerable. Passed through Liberty Hill, 
Cheraw, Springfield and Laurel Hill. At Cheraw oc- 
curred a singular accident. I had crossed the Great 
Pedee river after passing through the town, and had 
ridden some distance beyond when I heard a loud ex- 
plosion in the direction of the town. Looking back, I 
could see an immense column of light-colored smoke 
rising over it and hurried back to learn what had hap- 
pened, as our troops were just passing through. Found 
that the enemy in evacuating Cheraw had dumped a 
lot of ammunition — powder, shells, etc., into a ravine, 
close by the road. Some thoughtless or reckless fellow 
of our troops had touched this off with a slow match 
as our column was passing by, and, it happened, just 
as our regiment was nearest, — killing one man and in- 
juring a number. The concussion was terrific, shatter- 
ing houses in the vicinity. 

Reached Fayetteville March 12 and got into com- 
munication with Wilmington, several boats having 
com.e up Cape Fear river from there, Fayetteville had 
been an important military station for the Confederates 
and Sherman, with his characteristic tactics, made 

[118] 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

havoc with the arsenal there and whatever else might 
be serviceable to the enemy. We left here March i6, 
our brigade, with a couple of other regiments, as guard 
to a train of some seven hundred wagons pointed 
toward Bentonville. The roads were horrible and most 
of the way had to be corduroyed to be made passable 
for the teams. At Bentonville was met the last des- 
perate resistance of our opponents under the Confeder- 
ate General Joe Johnson, with whom we had become 
so well acquainted about Vicksburg. Heavy fighting 
had been going on before our arrival, and although 
worn out and nearly exhausted, our brigade no sooner 
left the train they had convoyed, than they were rushed 
into this action, destined to be their last in the war. 
I rode over the battle field next day and saw evidence 
of the sanguinary work done, especially at the field 
hospital site, where piles of amputated and mutilated 
limbs were yet exposed to view. Arrived at Goldsboro, 
Sherman's objective point when he started in on this 
campaign, on March 24, and went into camp for a 
couple of weeks, during which time I was kept con- 
stantly busy drawing and issuing clothing and other 
supplies to the brigade. Therefore got to see but little 
of this place, and retain no distinct impressions of it. 
I noted that despite the extremely wearisome and dis- 
agreeable marching through mud and water, the health 
and spirit of the troops after their steady two m.onths' 
tramp, was excellent. They were eager to start out 
again, preferring active campaigning through new 
country, to camp life and fare. While in camp at 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Goldsboro we were electrified April 6, by news that 
Grant had destroyed Lee's army, captured twenty-five 
thousand prisoners and five hundred and twenty guns ; 
that Lee had surrendered, and the Union troops in 
possession of Richmond, Petersburg, etc. Bulletins 
announcing this were posted up in the town and inde- 
scribable was the satisfaction and rejoicing. It brought 
the early close of the war in view and brightened our 
hopes for a return home before long. 

But Johnson's army yet confronting us was first to 
be disposed of. Moving on to Raleigh, the capital of 
North Carolina, we entered that city about April 14. 
That night, camped about one and one-half miles north 
of the place. Here we first heard that Sherman and 
Johnson were negotiating for the surrender of the lat- 
ter's army. I still have in my possession a clipping of 
Sherman's Special Field Order No. 58, of April 19, 
1865, taken from the Raleigh Daily Progress next day, 
announcing ''Suspension of hostilities and agreement 
with General Johnson and other high officials which 
when formally ratified will make Peace from the Poto- 
mac to the Rio Grande,' etc. The feeling of elation 
that glowed in me as I first read this order, thrills me 
yet as I look at the worn clipping to copy it. 

Arrangements were at once discussed at headquar- 
ters for our homeward journey. It was announced 
that we were to march to Frederick, Maryland, some 
three hundred miles, and there be mustered out, the 
trip to be made at the moderate pace of ten miles a 
day. 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

But while in this exalted state of mind, like a thun- 
derbolt out of a clear sky, came news of the assassina- 
tion of our beloved President Lincoln, just as his 
labors and prayers for a saved Union were about to be 
realized. The excitement this produced in the army 
was terrific and a feeling of revenge rampant, every- 
one supposing the Confederate government in some 
way connected with or responsible for the deed. Had 
hostilities been continued under this impression, there 
is no telling what the result might have been. I need 
not relate the causes that led to the disapproval by 
those in authority, of Sherman's arrangements with 
Johnson. No doubt he did overstep the limits of his 
military authority in the excess of his zeal to end the 
war. The North was in a white heat of anger on ac- 
count of the president's assassination, and at that par- 
ticular crisis it may have appeared the rebel army was 
being let off on too easy terms. But be that as it may, 
the censure and criticism and cruel reflections cast on 
Sherman's motives were unwarranted and uncalled 
for. It is no wonder he resented it in his conduct 
thereafter toward the secretary of war, who had been 
particularly venomous in his censure. His single aim 
had been, in making these terms, for peace and the 
restoration of the Union. No one knew the southern 
temperament better than he, and like the great man he 
was, he felt he could afford to be magnanimous toward 
such foemen, hereafter to be our fellow citizens. 

I want to note some of my impressions of Raleigh 
before quitting it. It appeared to me a beautiful little 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

city in one of the most pleasing sections of North Car- 
olina I had seen. The principal public buildings were 
the State House, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and Insane 
Asylum. Residences were generally fine, with beauti- 
ful, large, well shaded yards, the place having a su- 
burban rather than citified appearance. I recall riding 
along the street at the foot of the deep, sloping lawn 
fronting a dwelling in which General Howard had his 
headquarters. It was Sunday, and in accordance with 
the custom of that Christian general, religious services 
were being held up in front of the house, the music 
being furnished by his splendid band. To me it was 
a very pleasing, edifying scene, of a kind I had not 
often been favored with in my army life. On the same 
Sabbath, riding about to view the city, I stopped to 
take a look at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum. General 
Sherman had just gone in and the inmates were gath- 
ered outside in groups, apparently in excited conversa- 
tion by means of their sign language. They were a 
bright, intelligent-looking lot of people — nothing at all 
stupid about their appearance, or anything to indicate 
their affliction. Some of the young girls were espe- 
cially good-looking. 

After the delay in which Secretary of War Stanton 
turned down Sherman's peace arrangements with such 
a high hand, and the eventual adjustment of the matter 
to the satisfaction of the civil authorities, Sherman 
headed his veteran army toward Washington. It puz- 
zles me that my memory has not retained more of the 
incidents and route of our final journey from Raleigh 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

to Washington ; but with the elements of suffering and 
danger removed, I seem to have stopped charging my 
mind with the scenes and what happened on our peace- 
ful route, and ceased making notes of rivers crossed, 
towns passed through, etc., as had been my previous 
practice. I can account for it only on the theory that 
getting home must have been my all-absorbing thought. 
As we approached Petersburg, into country that had 
been the scene of so long and dreadful a struggle be- 
tween our brave comrades of the Army of the Poto- 
mac and Lee's forces, we were much interested and 
impressed as we passed over the battle-fields still cut 
up with intrenchments and fortifications— where so 
much blood had been shed and suffering endured to 
help win the peace we were on our way to enjoy. Pass- 
ing through Petersburg, we marched to Richmond, the 
late capital of the Southern Confederacy. All I can 
recall distinctly of our stop here is a visit to Libby 
prison, which had become so notorious as a prison pen 
for L'nion officers captured during the war. In the 
alley adjoining was still the hole out of which had 
escaped Colonel Straight and a number of others. On 
our way to Washington, passed through Mount Ver- 
non, the old home of George Washington, and this 
quaint old dwelling and its surroundings as they ap- 
peared then, stand out very clearly yet in my memory, 
particularly the vault through the iron grating of which 
could be seen the resting place of our first president. 
At Alexandria we visited the old brick church in which 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Washington worshiped and were pointed out the pew 
he occupied. 

Then followed the climax — the crowning glory of 
the war to these survivors congregated at our capital — 
the last "Grand Review." To my mind no spectacle in 
the history of our nation can equal this in stirring pa- 
thos, and no wonder that strong men went wild in their 
enthusiasm as the conquering hosts filed by. The 
shadow over it all was that our beloved Lincoln, who 
had so wonderfully conducted the "Ship of State" up 
to its safe harbor, could not witness it. First was the 
passing of the "Army of the Potomac." I did not see 
this, as we were too busy with our own affairs and 
preparation for the review of the Western Army next 
day. This I was fortunate enough to be in position to 
witness. Of course it would have been a matter of pride 
for me to have been, as I might have been, in the ranks 
with my company. But I preferred to secure a good 
position along the line of march and watch the grand 
western veterans as they filed by, led by our General 
Sherman, whom we had followed through these years 
of campaigning from Vicksburg to the glorious end. 
Who that saw it can ever forget the tremendous ova- 
tion that greeted Sherman as he appeared at the head 
of his column — and his bronzed, travel-stained, weath- 
er-beaten veterans ? As they filed by in company front, 
with their faded uniforms, but proud bearing, lines as 
straight as arrows, my heart was in my throat with ex- 
ultation. 

Then followed the disbanding and separation — the 

ri24l 



WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

putting off the panoply of war to assume the garb and 
avocations of peace; the end of war's turmoil and 
excitement and a settling down to the monotony of 
civil life — a new start to many of us. My special serv- 
ice secured for me an earlier discharge than the other 
members of my company, and I was mustered out at 
Crystal Springs, D. C, near Washington; the regi- 
ment being held in service until July 15, when it was 
mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky. 

Thus ended about as strenuous a three years' experi- 
ence as could well fall to the lot of youth. I was a vet- 
eran at nineteen. What seemed a special providence 
had saved me from wounds or any critical sickness. 
I did not have a single day's hospital record, and the 
worst that befell me was an occasional physical upset 
that required no more radical treatment than that at the 
daily regimental sick call. Nevertheless, an outraged 
stomach made havoc with my digestive organs, that 
time and the most careful habits have not been able to 
repair since. When other things failed, we nearly al- 
ways had plenty of coffee — and good, strong, genuine 
coffee at that. Used intemperately, as the conditions 
compelled, a pint or more at a time, hurriedly swal- 
lowed, it could not but be ruinous to the digestion of 
a growing, undeveloped young man — and the effect has 
been, taken in connection with the other irregular diet, 
to make me subject to almost intolerable sick head- 
aches ever since. But I can afford and am willing to 
thus suffer, for the memory of the scenes and experi- 
ences of those days. They will never fade while mem- 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

ory lasts. My mind seems to cling to them more viv- 
idly as the years go by, and, what is peculiar, the most 
fearful and trying have made the deepest impression. 
Many of the simple, ordinary details of every-day life 
in the army in its smooth, quiet moods have gone from 
me. Without the data supplied by my war-time letters 
I would be utterly unable to relate as much as I have 
done of the routine of camp life and incidents there and 
on the march. But a battle, or an adventure accom- 
panied with the elements of unusual danger and hard- 
ship, or having some unusually striking features, can 
be recalled with remarkable detail, so that no written 
record is needed to bring them vividly to memory. 

I never considered myself brave. On the contrary, 
as a boy was naturally fearful if not a rank coward^ 
so that, I am free to confess, I could never face shot 
and shell with the indifference some claimed for them- 
selves. Many a time, if not every time while we were 
waiting and expecting to be pushed into an engage- 
ment, would I have given almost anything to be out of 
it, back at the rear in some safe place. But despite 
such sensations, I always had enough strength of will 
and valued my reputation too much, to shirk — so was 
enabled to collar myself and compel myself to face the 
danger. But in the instances where we found our- 
selves suddenly, without time for forethought, under 
fire, or when once in the turmoil and excitement of 
battle, I declare I was not conscious of fear. 

The memory of my old company associates remains 
very dear to me. As a rule they were a brave, loyal, 

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WITH THE 76TH OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR 

reliable lot of young fellows, always zealous for the 
good name of the 76th and proud, as they have a right 
to be, of its record. They became as useful citizens as 
they were good soldiers, and not a few have attained 
enviable position in civil life. But many, most of them 
in the more than forty years since the close of the war, 
have gone over to answer to roll call with the vast 
army of their comrades beyond the shores of time — to 
join the great company who laid down their lives in 
battle, camp, and hospital during the years of our sol- 
diering. We who yet survive are old men. I, for one, 
am grateful that it has been given me to live to a time 
when can be seen such magnificent fruits of that great 
strife in an undivided country and a re-united people — 
a great and prosperous nation commanding the respect 
and admiration of all nations. Before many years the 
last of us will have passed away— certain that none of 
us who stood shoulder to shoulder in those stern exper- 
iences of 1861 to 1865, will have lived in vain in having 
done his mite toward the salvation and unification of 
our beloved country. May those who succeed us be as 
true to its preservation, and growth in freedom and 
righteousness, as were the members of the old 76th 
Ohio. 

Fennimore, Wis., April, 1908. 



[127] 
















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